Six Ways Perfectionism Can Impact Athletes’ Physical Health

Athletes who strive for unrealistic perfection can create a negative chain reaction in their bodies. This reaction can negatively impact their physical health and performance. Researchers who study athletes identified six ways perfectionism can affect their physical health.

Muscle Tension, Fatigue, and Impaired Recovery

When an athlete is a perfectionist, it can be stressful and make them anxious. This stress can cause muscles to feel tense and tired. (Madigan et al., 2019). Athletes who always aim for perfection may feel constantly stressed as they try to meet high standards, making it hard to relax and recover. This stress and exhaustion can slow an athlete's recovery process, making it tough to perform at their best and increasing the chance of getting hurt. (Hill et al., 2018).

Overtraining and Injury

Sometimes, athletes might feel like they must stick to a strict training schedule and never mess up. When they feel like this, they might end up practicing too much, which can make their body so tired that it can't recover, called overtraining syndrome. (Purvis et al., 2016). 

If athletes exercise too much, it can cause some problems. They might feel soreness in their muscles that won't go away, their performance might get worse, they might get sick more often, and they can even get injured. You're more likely to get hurt if you don't rest enough, which includes short-term and long-term injuries. (DiFiori et al., 2014).

Emotional and Physical Stress Accumulation

Athletes who are perfectionists often find it hard to chill out, making them feel anxious. This stress can build up over time and cause physical problems. Chronic stress can make athletes more likely to get sick, increase blood pressure, and give them a higher chance of getting a long-lasting disease. (Gustafsson et al., 2017). This stress can take a toll on their bodies and make any existing injuries feel worse or even cause new ones. (Nixdorf et al., 2016).

Sleep Problems and Concentration Difficulties

Sometimes, athletes get so focused on being perfect that they have trouble sleeping. This hyperfocus can lead to insomnia or sleep that doesn't leave them feeling rested.(Julian et al., 2017). Getting a good night's sleep is essential for our health. If we don't sleep well enough, it can slow down our healing process, make us feel tired, and affect our ability to concentrate and make decisions. (Brand et al., 2016). Sometimes, athletes can't focus on their sport or perform their best because certain things bother them, and they lose sleep. It can lead to poor overall recovery and performance.

Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders

Being too hard on oneself can lead to body image problems and eating disorders, particularly among athletes. If an athlete constantly worries about losing weight and looks, it could be a sign of body dysmorphia. (Haase et al., 2015). If they are avoiding meals or adhering to a rigorous diet, it might indicate an emerging eating disorder. These disorders can cause serious physical problems such as a lack of nutrients, imbalanced electrolytes, and weakened bones. Paying attention to the warning signs is essential. (Joy et al., 2016).

Repetitive Minor Injuries and Chronic Dissatisfaction

When athletes try to be perfect, they may repeatedly face many tiny injuries. These injuries can happen because they use a part of their body too much or don't recover correctly. Even if they feel pain or discomfort, they keep training hard.(DiFiori et al., 2014). 

Sometimes, even when athletes do well, they might still feel unhappy with their achievements. This dissatisfaction can make them not want to try as hard and get worse physically. (Hill et al., 2018).

Imperfection Is Normal and Essential

Suppose you experience perfectionist symptoms that impact your health, sport, or life. There are people and techniques that can help you. Talk about it with someone you trust and seek the help of a counselor. Remember, it's normal to be imperfect. Imperfection means you are learning and growing in life.

References

Brand, S., Gerber, M., Beck, J., Hatzinger, M., Pühse, U., & Holsboer-Trachsler, E. (2016). High exercise levels are related to favorable sleep patterns and psychological functioning in adolescents: A comparison of athletes and controls. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48(2), 133-141.

DiFiori, J. P., Benjamin, H. J., Brenner, J., Gregory, A., Jayanthi, N., Landry, G. L., & Luke, A. (2014). Overuse injuries and burnout in youth sports: A position statement from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(4), 287-288.

Gustafsson, H., Sagar, S. S., & Stenling, A. (2017). Fear of failure, psychological stress, and burnout among adolescent athletes competing in high-level sport. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(12), 2091-2102.

Haase, A. M., Prapavessis, H., & Owens, R. G. (2015). Perfectionism, social physique anxiety, and disordered eating: A comparison of athlete and non-athlete women. European Journal of Sport Science, 15(4), 346-352.

Hill, A. P., Mallinson-Howard, S. H., & Jowett, G. E. (2018). Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 7(3), 235-270.

Joy, E., Kussman, A., & Nattiv, A. (2016). 2016 update on eating disorders in athletes: A comprehensive narrative review focusing on clinical assessment and management. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(3), 154-162.

Julian, R., Heckman, T. G., Mathews, W. C., Mayfield, J., Erlen, J. A., & O'Dell, M. (2017). Insomnia, anxiety, and depression in HIV-infected patients: Coinfections more than side effects. AIDS Care, 29(10), 1262-1267.

Madigan, D. J., Stoeber, J., & Passfield, L. (2019). Perfectionism and training distress in junior athletes: A longitudinal investigation. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(5), 545-550.

Nixdorf, I., Frank, R., & Beckmann, J. (2016). Comparison of athletes' proneness to depressive symptoms in individual and team sports: Research on psychological mediators in junior elite athletes. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 893.

Purvis, D., Gonsalves, S., & Deuster, P. A. (2016). Physiological and psychological fatigue in extreme conditions: Overtraining and elite athletes. PM & R: The Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation, 8(5S), S86-S97.