Perfectionism as a Paradoxical Factor in Sport and Exercise Performance: An Umbrella Review

Edgar Froilan Damián Núñez; Lucia Mireya Soria Villanueva; Marco Antonio Tejada Mendoza; Sandy Dorian Isla Alcoser; Jessica Paola  Palacios Garay; Ronald  Hernández-Vásquez

doi:10.18502/ijps.v19i2.15111

Edgar Froilan Damián Núñez Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Lucia Mireya Soria Villanueva Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Marco Antonio Tejada Mendoza Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Sandy Dorian Isla Alcoser Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Jessica Paola Palacios Garay Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
Ronald Hernández-Vásquez Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima, Peru.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v19i2.15111

Keywords: Exercise; Perfectionism; Personality Assessment; Sports Performance; Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: Traditionally, perfectionism has been regarded as a commendable trait in the realm of sports and exercise. However, recent research has uncovered a paradoxical aspect of perfectionism in these domains. This umbrella review seeks to offer a comprehensive overview of the intricate role that perfectionism plays in sport and exercise performance.

Method: As an umbrella review, we systematically explored three widely used scientific databases—PubMed, Scopus, and ISI—to identify relevant systematic reviewes and meta-analyses investigating the relationship between perfectionism and sports performance.

Results: After careful evaluation, eight studies met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. These eight eligible studies comprised five systematic reviews and three systematic review and meta-analysis publications. These publications have explored the correlation between perfectionism and sports performance in teenager and adult populations, as well as professional and amateur athletes. Most of the original articles included in these studies had a cross-sectional design and some of them were longitudinal research. All reviewed articles reported a significant correlation between perfectionism and sports performance, regardless of gender and age. In general, the main consensus of these studies is a moderate to high positive correlation between perfectionistic strivings and sports performance, as well as a moderate to high negative correlation between perfectionistic concerns and sports performance.

Conclusion: In summary, perfectionism exhibits both positive and negative effects on athlete outcomes. Maladaptive perfectionism is linked to adverse consequences, while adaptive perfectionism can yield positive effects. Promisingly, psychological interventions such as mindfulness-based approaches and ACT-based interventions show potential in reducing perfectionism and enhancing athlete outcomes. Future research should delve deeper into the intricate relationship between perfectionism and athlete performance and continue to devise interventions that counteract the detrimental effects of perfectionistic tendencies.