Aim: This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect relationships among athletes’ multidimensional perfectionism, achievement goals, the impostor phenomenon, and sport character using structural equation modeling. Method: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 278 athletes (Mage = 22.16). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test direct and indirect paths simultaneously. Model fit was evaluated using standard fit indices (χ², CFI, TLI, RMSEA, SRMR). Results: Multidimensional perfectionism positively predicted achievement goals (β = 0.41) and strongly predicted the impostor phenomenon (β = 0.74). Achievement goals were positively associated with sport character (β = 0.29), whereas the impostor phenomenon negatively predicted sport character (β = −0.21). The model explained 16.9% of the variance in achievement goals, 54.7% in the impostor phenomenon, and 6.2% in sport character. The indirect effect of perfectionism on sport character via the impostor phenomenon was not significant. Conclusion: The findings indicate that perfectionism operates through parallel processes rather than a single mediational pathway. While achievement goals function as an adaptive mechanism enhancing sport character, the impostor phenomenon represents a maladaptive pathway associated with reduced character-related outcomes. The study provides an integrative model that brings together motivational and self-evaluative processes in explaining sport character, contributing to a more differentiated understanding of perfectionism in sport contexts.
Terzioğlu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.