Abstract
The 2 x 2 model of dispositional perfectionism posits that four within-person combinations of self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., high/high, high/low, low/high, low/low) can be distinguished on the basis of their distinct etiological and functional features. The goal of this study was to examine whether subtypes of perfectionism are distinctively associated with subjective well-being (i.e., positive affect, subjective vitality, and life-satisfaction) in the sport domain. A sample of 208 athletes, aged from 14 to 28 years (M = 18.30, SD = 3.25), completed the short form of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Cox, Enns & Clara, 2002), the 10-item positive affect subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (Watson, Clark & Tellegen, 1998), the Subjective Vitality Scale (Ryan & Frederick, 1997) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (Pavot & Diener, 1993). Results of moderated multiple regression analyses provided support for the hypotheses of this model. Pure self-oriented perfectionism was associated with equally high levels of positive affect and vitality, and to significantly higher levels of life-satisfaction compared to non-perfectionism. Furthermore, pure socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with significantly lower levels of positive affect, vitality, and life-satisfaction compared to other subtypes of perfectionism. This study provided initial support for the tenets of the 2 x 2 model of perfectionism in the sport domain.
