Do appraisals mediate the effects of perfectionism dimensions on affective experience during competition among college athletes?

Abstract

The 2 x 2 model of perfectionism suggests that specific combinations of perfectionism dimensions may differentially influence athlete cognitions and affect. However, appraisal theories hold that emotions and affect are primarily influenced by specific appraisals. This prospective study examined a multiple mediator model in which personal standards perfectionism (PSP), evaluative concerns perfectionism (ECP), and PSPxECP effects on positive (PA) and negative (NA) affect are mediated by threat and challenge appraisals during a competition. Athletes from British Columbia and Quebec (N=187, nfemale=100) completed a measure of perfectionism (SMPS-2), followed 3-4 weeks later by measures of appraisal and affect after a competition. Mediation analysis with bootstrapping (k= 5000; Mplus) revealed that the PSPxECP was the only significant predictor of challenge appraisals (R2= .04). Challenge and PSP had significant effects on PA. Threat and ECP were significant predictors of NA. Examination of specific indirect effects provided marginal support for mediation.  Challenge significantly mediated the PSPxECP and PA relationship (unstandardized point estimate (PE) = .042; Bias Corrected Confidence Interval [BCCI] = .014 to .087). PSP had a direct effect on PA (PE = .168, BCCI = .020 to .402). There was no evidence for mediation of NA, with ECP having a significant direct effect (PE = .317, BCCI = .170 to .505). The models predicted R2= .44 in PA and R2= .28 in NA. Overall the data indicates that dimensions of perfectionism have direct effects on affect in competition, with limited evidence that these effects are mediated by threat or challenge appraisals.

Acknowledgments: This research was funded by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.