An examination of perfectionism traits and physical activity motivation

作者：Longbottom Jay Lee^*; Grove J Robert; Dimmock James A

来源：Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2010, 11(6): 574-581.

DOI：10.1016/j.psychsport.2010.06.007

• Multidimensional perfectionism
• Physical activity motivation
• Exercise

Objectives: Recent research has indicated that maladaptive and adaptive forms of perfectionism underpin fundamentally distinct cognitive and behavioral processes (Stoeber, Stoll, Pescheck, & Otto, 2008). The study of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism specific to the exercise setting has largely been neglected and may provide clues as to how healthy or dysfunctional forms of physical activity are initiated and maintained. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between dimensions of perfectionism and cognitive and behavioral aspects of physical activity motivation.
Method: Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism (Cox, Enns, & Clara, 2002) and the four-factor model of physical activity motivation (Martin, in press; Martin, Tiper, Marsh, Richards, & Williams, 2006), utilizing data from 215 undergraduate students.
Results: Results supported a model in which adaptive perfectionism was positively associated with adaptive behavioral and cognitive aspects of motivation that reflected self-efficacy, planning, and persistence in physical activity. Maladaptive perfectionism was significantly associated with impeding and maladaptive motivation dimensions that reflected uncertainty about the conduct of exercise, fear of failure, and avoidance of physical activity.
Conclusions: The findings from the present study suggest that particular forms of perfectionism may predispose individuals to engage in fundamentally different cognitive and behavioral processes that may act to compromise or energize positive outcomes in exercise.

• 出版日期2010-11