Multidimensional perfectionism and sport performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Evidence regarding the perfectionism-performance relationship in sport is inconsistent, leading to an ongoing debate about whether perfectionism helps or hinders athletes in achieving their best performance. To address this, we provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of research examining the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and sport performance. A literature search returned 31 studies with 46 samples (N = 6,102). A systematic review of this literature suggests that research varies methodologically, with mixed findings for perfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC). The meta-analysis found that perfectionistic strivings were positively related to sport performance (r+ = .21; CI = .15, .26), while perfectionistic concerns were unrelated (r+ = .03; CI = –.02, .08). Total unique effect revealed that, overall, perfectionism was positively associated with sport performance (TUE = .17; CI = .13, .22), with perfectionistic strivings being primarily responsible for the effect. Moderation analyses showed that the relationship between perfectionistic strivings and sport performance was stronger in older athletes. Evidence for a perfectionistic tipping point was also found showing that PS only predicts better performance when PC is low. We suggest that the interplay between PS and PC is key to understanding this relationship further.