Striving for perfection: The relationship between perfectionism, stress and injury

Lindsay, Peta BPsych, MSc (Dance Science), Laban, London, United Kingdom

Introduction

This study investigated the relationship between perfectionism, stress and injury among undergraduate modern dance students.  It was hypothesised that higher levels of perfectionism would predict higher levels of stress.  Differences in the levels of perfectionism and stress between injured and non-injured dancers were also investigated. 

Method

Seventy-nine fulltime undergraduate modern dance students completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale for Dance (Cumming & Duda, 2005) and the Dance Experiences Survey (Mainwaring, Kerr & Krasnow, 1993), measuring levels of perfectionism and stress respectively.  Participants with a current injury also completed an injury questionnaire (Krasnow, Mainwaring & Kerr, 1999).

Results & Discussion

The hypothesis that higher levels of perfectionism would predict higher levels of stress was not supported by this study.  However some of the dimensions of perfectionism (Concern over Mistakes, Teacher Expectations) significantly predicted levels of total stress.  Perfectionism dimensions (Concern over Mistakes, Parental Expectations) also significantly predicted negative stress, emphasising the importance of examining the impact of significant others on dancers levels of perfectionism and stress.  No significant differences were observed between injured and non-injured dancers in levels of perfectionism or stress, suggesting that these factors were not the main determinants of injury in the population under investigation.  

Conclusions

The findings of the study support the assumption that perfectionism may conceptualised as a multidimensional personality construct and suggest that individual dimensions of perfectionism may be important in predicting increased levels of negative and total stress in modern dance students.  It is recommended that future research should distinguish between overuse and acute injuries when investigating the effects of psychological correlates to injury.

References

Cumming, J., & Duda, J. (Winter, 2005). Demanding perfection vs striving for personal excellence. Dance UK News Issue 59, 16-17.

Krasnow, D., Mainwaring, L., & Kerr, G. (1999). Injury, stress and perfectionism in young dancers and gymnasts. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 3(2), 51-58.

Mainwaring, L., Kerr, G., & Krasnow, D. (1993). Psychological correlates of dance injuries. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 8, 3-6.