Future College Athlete and The Rise Of Perfectionism: Future Trend 7—Unstable Self—Esteem
By Michael Cerreto
Perfectionism is on the rise. If the trend continues for the next ten years, it may profoundly impact the personalities and mental health of athletes who enter college in the 2030s. The following is the final trend of a seven-part series about how the rise of perfectionism can impact future college athletes. Let’s look at Future Trend 7.
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
Future Trend 7: Perfectionism will cause athletes to base their self-esteem on performance outcomes, creating unstable self-esteem.
Athletes who are perfectionists link their self-esteem to their drive to succeed (Ahmed et al., 2021). Perfectionist athletes who perform at a higher level, such as in college, might feel good about themselves and have an even stronger drive to win (Ahmed et al., 2021). However, as perfectionism grows, college athletes will focus too much on linking self-esteem to performance outcomes, making their self-esteem unstable and fragile.
This mindset will make them more competitive over the next ten years, but it can also make them overly reliant on their performance to feel good about themselves. Research indicates that the more individuals identify with athletic performance (high athletic identity), the less stable their psychological health (Marin-Urquiza et al., 2018).
By the 2030s, more athletes will base their self-esteem on perfectionism and performance outcomes and experience adverse effects. Here are ways future college athletes may be negatively impacted by linking self-esteem with perfectionism and outcomes:
Unstable Identity and Self-Esteem: Future athletes will strongly associate their identity with their athletic performance, resulting in a less stable sense of self and lower self-esteem. This unstable identity will lead to fluctuation in confidence, negative self-talk, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms (Pinalto, 2018).
Negative Sense of Self: When athletes link their self-esteem with their performance, they feel bad about themselves when they do not meet expectations or do not achieve the perfect outcome. This shortfall can lead to burnout, anxiety, and other mental health problems (Center, 2018).
Increased Pressure Affects Mental Health: As the pressure to be perfect and win increases, future athletes will experience an increase in mental health issues, including body dysmorphia, low self-esteem, sleep deprivation, substance use, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders (Ridley, 2023). The fear of failure and making mistakes can mix with depressive thinking patterns, leading to feelings of hopelessness (Ridley, 2023).
Relying Too Much On Social Approval: Some athletes crave social approval, which can temporarily boost their self-esteem. However, future athletes will depend too much on external validation based on their performance and tendency to strive for perfection. This validation will lead to performance anxiety, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and low confidence when they do not receive the approval they need (Straw, 2023).
Focusing too much on winning and losing can cause severe problems for perfectionist college athletes. When they link self-worth to how well they perform, it can lead to mental health issues and make them rely too much on other people's approval. Athletes need to have a balanced sense of self and realize they are more than just their athletic abilities. They should also reach out for help if they are struggling with mental health issues (Ridley, 2023; Straw, 2023).
References
Ahmed, M. D., Ho, W. K. Y., Begum, S., & Sánchez, G. F. L. (2021). Perfectionism, Self-Esteem, and the Will to Win Among Adolescent Athletes: The Effects of the Level of Achievements and Gender. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.580446
Marin-Urquiza, A., Ferreira, J. P., & Van Biesen, D. (2018). Athletic identity and self-esteem among active and retired Paralympic athletes. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(6), 861–871. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.1462854
Pinalto, C. (2018, June 19) Creating a Healthy Identity Beyond Sports. (n.d.). Sidelined USA. https://www.sidelinedusa.org/resources-blog/2018/6/19/becoming-sidelined-creating-a-healthy-identity-beyond-the-game
Center, C. C. (2018, November 1). Pitfalls of the Student-Athlete. Clarity Counseling Center. https://www.claritywilmington.com/anxiety/pitfalls-of-the-student-athlete
Ridley, C. (2023, March 28) Student-athlete mental health: A closer look at the unique stressors collegiate athletes may face | Thriveworks. (2023, March 28). https://Thriveworks.com/. https://thriveworks.com/help-with/mental-health-awareness/student-athlete-mental-health
Straw, E. (2023, November 10). Seeking Social Approval in Sports. Success Starts Within. https://successstartswithin.com/sports-psychology-articles/athlete-self-confidence/seeking-social-approval-in-sports
