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Perfectionism predicts injury in junior athletes: Preliminary evidence from a prospective study

Madigan, Daniel J., Stoeber, Joachim, Forsdyke, Dale, Dayson, Mark, Passfield, Louis (2018) Perfectionism predicts injury in junior athletes: Preliminary evidence from a prospective study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36 (5). pp. 545-550. ISSN 0264-0414. E-ISSN 1466-447X. (doi:10.1080/02640414.2017.1322709) (KAR id:61420)

Abstract

According to the stress-injury model (Williams & Andersen, 1998), personality factors predisposing athletes to elevated levels of stress may increase the risk of injury. As perfectionism has been associated with chronic stress, it may be one such personality factor. So far, however, no study has investigated the relationships between perfectionism and injury utilising a prospective design. Therefore, the present study examined perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and injury in 80 junior athletes from team and individual sports (mean age 17.1 years, range 16-19 years) over 10 months of active training. The results of logistic regression analyses showed that perfectionism positively predicted injury, but only perfectionistic concerns emerged as a significant positive predictor. The likelihood of sustaining an injury was increased by over 2 times for each 1 SD increase in perfectionistic concerns. The findings suggest that perfectionistic concerns may be a possible factor predisposing athletes to an increased risk of injury.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1322709
Uncontrolled keywords: perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, injury, junior athletes, longitudinal study
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation. Leisure > Sports sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Sport and Exercise Sciences
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Joachim Stoeber
Date Deposited: 20 Apr 2017 16:34 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 16:44 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61420 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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