Perfection behind the whistle: Perfectionism and perceived performance in soccer referees

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, cognitive appraisals, psychobiosocial experiences, and self-evaluated performance in soccer referees, using the multi-states (MuSt) theory as the theoretical framework.

Method: Participants were 67 soccer referees (57 men and 10 women, M_age = 23.03 years, SD = 2.71) with 3-15 years (M = 7.36, SD = 2.44) of refereeing experience in first-class, promotion, or excellence matches. They completed questionnaires assessing perfectionism, competitive appraisals, and psychobiosocial experiences two days before a game, and self-evaluated their performance one day after the event.

Results: Results revealed significant positive correlations (r > 0.20) between self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism with challenge appraisals, functional psychobiosocial experiences, and self-evaluated performance. Serial multiple mediation analyses showed positive indirect effects of both self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism on self-evaluated performance via challenge appraisals and psychobiosocial experiences (β = 0.023, 95 % CI = 0.000, 0.097, and β = 0.097, 95 % CI = 0.003, 0.253, respectively).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that both dimensions of perfectionism may positively influence perceived performance when viewed as a positive challenge and associated with functional experiences. The study advances our understanding of the effects of perfectionism on perceived performance in the context of soccer refereeing. Practical implications for referee training programs are provided.

Keywords: Cognitive appraisals; Multi-states theory; Psychobiosocial experiences; Self-evaluated performance; Self-oriented perfectionism; Soccer referees; Socially prescribed perfectionism.

Fig. 1

Serial multiple mediation model depicting the relationship between Self-Oriented Performance Perfectionism and Self-evaluated Performance, mediated by Challenge Appraisal and Psychobiosocial Experiences. Note. Standardized coefficients are reported, *p < .05 (95 % CI are in square brackets).

Fig. 2

Serial multiple mediation model depicting the relationship between Socially Prescribed Performance Perfectionism and Self-evaluated Performance, mediated by Challenge Appraisal and Psychobiosocial Experiences. Note. Standardized coefficients are reported, *p < .05 (95 % CI are in square brackets).