The mediating role of perfectionism in parental involvement and young athletes’ performance

This study explored the relationship between perceived parental involvement, perfectionist dispositional-like traits (striving for perfection; negative reactions to imperfection), and sports performance. Specifically, it examined whether perfectionism mediates the relationship between parental involvement and sports performance. Data were collected on perceived parental involvement, perfectionism in sports, and sports performance using both subjective and objective measures. The sample included 299 young male football athletes (from 15 teams across 8 clubs), all competing in U15 to U19 national championships. Path analysis revealed several findings, namely that (a) athletes who perceived higher parental involvement exhibited greater striving for perfection and reported higher levels of perceived individual and collective sports performance; (b) striving for perfection positively predicted both the perceived collective sports performance and objective performance; (c) negative reactions to imperfection negatively predict objective performance; (d) striving for perfection positively mediated the relationship between perceived parental involvement and both perceived individual, collective and objective sports performance. These findings underline the complex role parental behaviors, especially as perceived by young athletes, have in shaping athletic development and performance, and also highlight both the positive and potential negative effects of parental involvement, stressing the importance of providing parents with guidance on fostering a supportive sports environment.
This study was conducted at two different research centres: Research Centre for Human Development (supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, ref. UIDB/04872/2020) and by the Psychology Research
Centre (CIPsi/UM) School of Psychology, University of Minho (supported by the Foundation for Science and
Technology, ref. UIDB/01662/2020).