ATHLETES FROM FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION SCHOOLS PERCEPTIONS OF SPORT SPECIALIZATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFECTIONISM

Abstract

Sport specialization is an emerging trend amongst athletes today who are looking to gain an advantage over the competition. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate the psychological consequences of sport specialization. The purpose of study was to investigate the effect that sport specialization has on perfectionism. Additionally, this study examined if specializing in sport had any long-term consequences by investigating the time in which someone specializes in sport and its relationship with perfectionism.

A total of 393 student-athletes (N = 393) from Football Bowl Subdivision schools participated in the in the study. Multiple-hierarchical analyses were conducted to investigate the degree in which an athlete engages in sport specialization and the relationship with perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. The analyses indicated that student-athletes who are highly specialized were more likely to develop perfectionistic concerns whereas moderate and low sport specializers did not have a relationship with perfectionistic concerns. Results of the analyses also indicated that specializing in sport had no relationship with the development of perfectionistic strivings. The results indicate that there are potential negative psychological consequences for athletes who specialize in sport. Further research is warranted.

In addition, one-way ANOVA’s were conducted to see if the time in which athletes specialized in a sport had any relationship with perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. Results of the analyses indicated that the time in which someone specialized in a sport did not have a relationship with perfectionistic concerns or perfectionistic strivings. The results indicate that sport specialization does not have many longitudinal repercussions, at least psychologically. It seems that any psychological repercussions are confined to the time, and more importantly the degree in which one is engaging in sport specialization.