Perfectionism and performance in competitive athletes: The role of achievement goals and goal attainment expectancies

Lead Research Organisation: University of Kent
Department Name: Sch of Psychology

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

10 25 50
publication icon
Stoeber J (2010) Achievement goals and championship performance: Predicting absolute performance and qualification success in Psychology of Sport and Exercise

publication icon
Stoeber J (2009) Predicting race performance in triathlon: the role of perfectionism, achievement goals, and personal goal setting. in Journal of sport & exercise psychology

 
Description The project's main results demonstrate that perfectionism has a positive influence on competitive performance in triathlon. However, this is the case only for personal standards perfectionism, but not for evaluative concerns perfectionism. Triathletes who have perfectionistic personal standards pursue performance approach goals (striving to do better than others) and set higher goals for the next race (faster times, higher ranks) and thus achieve a race performance that goes beyond what is predicted from their previous performance level. Moreover, athletes who have perfectionistic personal standards, achieve higher performance increments across a competitive season than athletes who do not have such high standards. Consequently, personal standards perfectionism should not be seen as an impediment to performance, but as a personality characteristic that leads to higher competitive performance.
Exploitation Route The findings of the present project are expected (a) to further the theoretical and practical understanding of the role perfectionism, achievement goals, and goal setting play in competitive sports and (b) to have an impact on how athletes and their coaches prepare for competitions.
Sectors Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism
 
Description The findings of the present project were used to further the theoretical and practical understanding of the role perfectionism, achievement goals, and goal setting play in competitive sports.
Sector Education