Cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and health in elite athletes: the moderating role of perfectionism

Tools

McLoughlin, E. ORCID: 0000-0003-3630-6055, Fletcher, D., Graham, H.L. ORCID: 0000-0002-6602-6380, Arnold, R., Madigan, D.J., Slavich, G.M. and Moore, L.J., 2024. Cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and health in elite athletes: the moderating role of perfectionism. In: R.J. Schinke, ed., Mental health in sport and physical activity: selected writings from the ISSP Academy of Science. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032603964

Text
1900181_McLoughlin.pdf - Post-print
Full-text access embargoed until 9 April 2025.
Download (450kB)

Abstract

Although greater lifetime stressor exposure has been associated with physical and mental health issues in the general population, relatively little is known about how lifetime stressors impact the physical and mental health of elite athletes, or the factors moderating this association. Given that many elite athletes show signs of perfectionism, and that this trait has been linked with ill-health, it is possible that perfectionism may moderate the lifetime stressor-health relationship. To test this possibility, we examined how cumulative lifetime stressor exposure was associated with general mental and physical health complaints in elite athletes, and the extent to which these associations were moderated by perfectionism. Participants were 110 elite athletes (64 female; Mage = 29.98 years, SD = 10.54) who completed assessments of lifetime stressor exposure, physical health, psychological distress, and perfectionism. As hypothesized, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that experiencing more severe lifetime stressors was related to poorer physical and mental health. Furthermore, self-oriented perfectionism moderated the association between lifetime stressor count and severity and physical health, but not mental health. Overall, these data demonstrate stressor-specific effects among elite athletes and highlight the potential importance of assessing lifetime stressor exposure and perfectionistic tendencies in order to improve athlete health and wellbeing.

Item Type:

Chapter in book

Creators:

McLoughlin, E., Fletcher, D., Graham, H.L., Arnold, R., Madigan, D.J., Slavich, G.M. and Moore, L.J.

Publisher:

Routledge

Place of Publication:

Abingdon

Date:

9 April 2024

ISBN:

9781032603964