Perfectionism, engagement and burnout in youth sport and dance: A self-determination theory perspective

Recently researchers have found that indicators of perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns share divergent relationships with athlete burnout. To extend this research the thesis examined whether self-determination theory could help to explain these divergent relationships. The first study suggested that the positive association between perfectionistic concerns and athlete burnout was explained, in part, by controlled motivation. In contrast, the inverse association between perfectionistic strivings and athlete burnout was explained, in part, by autonomous motivation. Building on study one, the second study of the thesis examined whether perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings also shared divergent associations with athlete engagement, and whether basic psychological needs could explain these associations. The study two findings suggested that perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings did share opposing associations with athlete engagement. Moreover, the positive perfectionistic strivings-engagement and inverse perfectionistic concerns-engagement associations were explained by basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting. In addition, the positive perfectionistic concerns-burnout and inverse perfectionistic strivings-burnout associations were also mediated by basic psychological need satisfaction and thwarting. Study three built on the first two studies by examining how perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns predicted self-conscious emotions on a day-to-day basis. The study three findings suggested that perfectionistic concerns predicted reduced pride, increased shame and guilt, and greater emotional instability; whereas perfectionistic strivings did not significantly predict self-conscious emotions. The fourth study examined how parents and dance tutors moderate dancers’ perfectionism. The study four findings advanced previous research in sport and dance by demonstrating that parental conditional regard strengthened the positive association between perfectionistic concerns and ill being in youth dancers. Together the studies
suggested that perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings share opposing relationships with well-being and ill-being outcomes in youth sport and dance and that self-determination theory provides a theoretical lens through which to understand these relationships.