Perfectionism and stress control in adolescents: Differences and relations according to the intensity of sports practice

• Main Authors: Juan González-Hernández, Manuel Gómez-López, Andrés Alarcón-García, Antonio J. Muñoz-Villena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Alicante 2019-03-01
• Series: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
• Subjects: Athlete; Sport psychology; Adolescence; Functional personality
• Online Access: https://www.jhse.ua.es/article/view/2019-v14-n1-perfectionism-stress-control-adolescents-intensity-sports-practice
• ISSN: 1988-5202

The sistematic practice physical activity in children and adolescents, improves both psychological welfare as cognitive processes and personality, both mental structures constructed during that period. Regarded as a personality trait it is identified perfectionism currently understood as a functional feature linked to positive (positive affect, self-esteem, task cohesion,...) like dysfunctional aspects have been associated with anxiety and stress. Since adolescence is a period of change and the presence of difficult situations, perceive and interpret stress in a useful way, it is an important issue for personal growth and experience psychological well-being. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify which indicators of perfectionism provide conditions / skills for stress management in an adaptive way. Participated 127 adolescents (45 females and 82 males) aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.56, SD = 1.57) who completed self-reports like the Multidimensional Scale Perfectionism (FMPS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and a questionnaire sociodemographic. The results indicate that the higher the frequency of AF, there are significant differences in indicators of adaptive perfectionism (personal demands and organization) and indicators of maladaptive perfectionism (parental expectations and fear of making mistakes) regarding facilitate or limit the perception of stress control. In short, research on such variables allows training and design programs for teens to know how to cope situations interpreted as stressful in an effective way. The results indicate that the higher the frequency of AF, there are significant differences in indicators of adaptive perfectionism (personal demands and organization) and indicators of maladaptive perfectionism (parental expectations and fear of making mistakes) regarding facilitate or limit the perception of stress control. In short, research on such variables allows training and design programs for teens to know how to cope situations interpreted as stressful in an effective way.