Benjamin J. Houltberg *, Jane Zimmerman **, Jennifer Shubert ***, Sarah Schnitker *** and Peter C. Scales ****
(*) Search Institute, USA
(**) Baylor University, USA
(***) Utah Valley University, USA
(****) Mental Performance Coach, USA
Citation
Houltberg, B.J., Zimmerman, J., Shubert, J., Schnitker, S., Scales, P.C. (2026). Achievement orientation and perfectionism are linked to competition mindsets and mental well-being in elite athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 57(3), 175-200. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2026.57.175
Abstract
In a sample of 99 national, world, and Olympic competitors and medalists (73% White, 52% male, median age 22), Latent Profile Analysis was used to examine three profiles of achievement-related motivation and perfectionism that promoted or undermined their mental well-being. Results showed that high mastery goal orientation-low perfectionist concern athletes had the best mental well-being, including lower overall distress levels, less distress and threat appraisals to competition and more challenge appraisals, and greater life satisfaction, than those who were in the high achievement goal orientation-high perfectionist concern profile, and on some outcomes, than those with moderate mastery goal orientation and low-moderate perfectionist concern profiles. Coaching athletes to develop a mastery orientation with low perfectionist concern to training and competition can facilitate mental well-being and potentiate better athletic performance. Applied sports practitioners can identify athletes’ motivation-perfectionism profiles to help them balance pursuit of performance excellence with whole-person development.
Keywords: Achievement-related motivation, elite athletes, mastery motivation, perfectionism, mental well-being