Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine


ISSN: 2300-9705     eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2025.4-03
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 52, No. 4/2025
Relation between Perfectionism and State Anxiety during Practice Exams (Rhythmic Gymnastics and Handball) for Physical Education and Sport Students

Authors: Evdoxia Kosmidou ORCID
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Amalia Drakou ORCID
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Zacharoula Papadopoulou
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Dimitra Moscha ORCID
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Keywords: anxiety perfectionism rhythmic gymnastics handball exams
Whole issue publication date:2025
Page range:14 (27-40)
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between perfectionism, a personality trait, and state anxiety experienced by Physical Education students during practical exams, and how this relationship, as an experiential learning process could increase their professional readiness for coaching. A total of 305 students (146 male and 159 female) participated in the study. They completed questionnaires on demographics, and perfectionism, and before each exam they completed the STAIC-2. The results revealed differences between rhythmic gymnastics (RG) exams and handball exams in somatic anxiety and self-confidence, as well as between female and male participants. Also, the negative dimension of perfectionism was the main predictor of somatic and cognitive anxiety. Practical indications are discussed in relation to the professional development of future coaches.
Download file

Article file

Bibliography

1.Ariffin, N. A. K., Anuar, N., & Azhar, N. A. (2025). Comparative Analysis of Athlete Anxiety and Performance between Individual and Team Sports in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(2), 759–766.
2.Antony, M. M., Purdon, C. L., Huta, V., & Swinson, R. P. (1998). Dimensions of perfectionism across the anxiety disorders.Behaviour Research and Therapy,36, 1143–1154. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00083-7
3.Beauchamp, M. R., Bray, S. R., Eys, M. A., & Carron, A. V. (2003). The effect of role ambiguity on competitive state anxiety. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 25(1), 77–92. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.25.1.77
4.Bieling, P. J., Israeli, A., Smith, J., & Antony, M. M. (2003). Making the grade: The behavioural consequences of perfectionism in the classroom. Personality and individual differences, 35(1), 163–178.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00173-3
5.Booth, R. W., Sharma, D., & Leader, T. I. (2016). The age of anxiety? It depends where you look: Changes in STAI trait anxiety, 1970–2010. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 51, 193-202.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1096-0
6.Cox, R.H. (2007). Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications (6thed.) MGraw-Hill.
7.Daniilidou, A. (in press). Understanding the relationship between the multidimensional perfectionism and self-compassion in adults: The effect of age [Accepted manuscript]. Europe's Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13468
8.Diamantopoulou, G., & Platsidou, M. (2014). Factorial validity and psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Almost Perfect Scale Revised (APS-R). Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 11(2), 123–137.
9.Dias, C., Cruz, J., & Fonseca, A. (2010). Coping Strategies, Multidimensional Competitive Anxiety and Cognitive Threat Appraisal: Differences across sex age and type of sport. Serbian Journal of Sports Sciences, 4(1), 2331.https://hdl.handle.net/1822/16596
10.Dunkley, D. M., Blankstein, K. R., Masheb, R. M., & Grilo, C. M. (2006). Personal standards and evaluative concerns dimensions of “clinical” perfectionism: A reply to Shafran et al.(2002, 2003) and Hewitt et al.(2003). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 44(1), 63–84.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2004.12.004
11.Dunn, J. G. (1999). A theoretical framework for structuring the content of competitive worry in ice hockey. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21(3), 259–279.https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.21.3.259
12.Dunn, J. G., Gotwals, J. K., & Dunn, J. C. (2005). An examination of the domain specificity of perfectionism among intercollegiate student-athletes. Personality and individual differences, 38(6), 1439–1448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2004.09.009
13.Endler, N. S., Parker, J. D., Bagby, R. M., & Cox, B. J. (1991). Multidimensionality of state and trait anxiety: factor structure of the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(6), 919.https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.6.919
14.Flett, G. L., Endler, N. S., Tassone, C., & Hewitt, P. L. (1994). Perfectionism and components of state and trait anxiety. Current Psychology, 13, 326–350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102130
15.Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Nepon, T., Sherry, S. B., & Smith, M. (2022). The destructiveness and public health significance of socially prescribed perfectionism: A review, analysis, and conceptual extension. Clinical Psychology Review, 93, 102130.
16.Gould, D., Horn, T., & Speerman, J. (1983). Sources of stress in junior elite wrestlers. Journal of Sport Psychology, 5, 159–171.
17.Gould, D., Petlichkoff, L., & Weinberg, R. S. (1984). Antecedents of, temporal changes in, and relationships between CSAI-2 subcomponents. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 6(3), 289–304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jsp.6.3.289
18.Hahne, R., Lohmann, R., & Krzyszycha, K. (1999). Studium und psychische Probleme: Sonderauswertung zur 15. Deutsches Studentenwerk, Bonn
19.Hamachek, D. E. (1978). Psychodynamics of normal and neurotic perfectionism. Psychology: A Journal of Human Behavior, 15(1), 27–33. Retrieved from: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-08598-001?simple=True
20.Hammermeister, J., & Burton, D. (2001). Stress, appraisal, and coping revisited: Examining the antecedents of competitive state anxiety with endurance athletes. The Sport Psychologist, 15(1), 66–90.https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.15.1.66
21.Hammermeister, J., & Burton, D. (2004). Gender Differences in Coping with Endurance Sport Stress: Are Men From Mars And Women From Venus? Journal of Sport Behavior, 27(2), 148–164. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/gender-differences-coping-with-endurance-sport/docview/215866765/se-2
22.Hwang, J. W., Cho, J. S., & Kwon, S. H. (2019). Verification of the structural relationship model of college athletes’ perfectionism, anxiety, and aggression in contact and non-contact sports. Korean Journal of Sport Science, 30(1), 160–177.
23.Jones, G., Swain, A., & Hardy, L. (1993) Intensity and direction dimensions of competitive state anxiety and relationships with performance. Journal of Sports Sciences, 11(6), 525–532. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640419308730023
24.Kawamura, K. Y., Hunt, S. L., Frost, R. O., & DiBartolo, P. M. (2001). Perfectionism, anxiety, and depression: Are the relation-ships independent?Cognitive Therapy and Research,25, 291–301.https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010736529013
25.Krane, V., & Williams, J. M. (1994). Cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and confidence in track and field athletes: The impact of gender, competitive level and task characteristics. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 25(2), 203–217.https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-19538-001
26.Kristjánsdóttir, H., Erlingsdóttir, A. V., Sveinsson, G., & Saavedra, J. M. (2018). Psychological skills, mental toughness and anxiety in elite handball players. Personality and Individual Differences, 134, 125–130.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.06.011
27.Marchant, D. B., Morris, T., & Anderson, M. B. (1998). Preceived importance of outcome as a contributing factor in competitive state anxiety. Journal of Sport Behavior, 21(1), 71.https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/preceived-importance-outcome-as-contributing/docview/215869995/se-2
28.Martens, R. (1987). Science, knowledge, and sport psychology. The sport psychologist, 1(1), 29–55.https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.1.1.29
29.Martens, R., Vealey, R. S., & Burton, D. (1990). Competitive anxiety in sport.Champaign: Human Kinetics Publishers
30.Masten, R., Tušak, M., & Faganel, M. (2006). Impact of identity on anxiety in athletes. Kinesiology, 38(2.), 126–134. Retrieved from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/9072
31.Matheson, H., & Mathes, S. (1991). Influence of performance setting, experience and difficulty of routine on precompetition anxiety and self-confidence of high school female gymnasts. Perceptual and motor skills, 72(3_suppl), 1099–1105.
32.Matsumoto, D. (2019). Psychology Lexicon of Cambridge, B’. Pediobooks.
33.McArdle, S. (2010). Exploring domain‐specific perfectionism. Journal of Personality, 78(2), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00624.x
34.Minarik, M. L., & Ahrens, A. H. (1996). Relations of eating behavior and symptoms of depression and anxiety to the dimen-sions of perfectionism among undergraduate women. Cognitive Therapy and Research,20, 155–169.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02228032
35.Nassib, S. H., Mkaouer, B., Riahi, S. H., Wali, S. M., & Nassib, S. (2017). The precompetitive anxiety impacts immediately actual gymnastics’ performance or sustain during routine’s outcomes over the execution time. Sport Sciences for Health, 13(1), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0347-8
36.Neuderth, S., Jabs, B., & Schmidtke, A. (2009). Strategies for reducing test anxiety and optimizing exam preparation in German university students: A prevention-oriented pilot project of the University of Würzburg. Journal of Neural Transmission, 116, 785–790. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-008-0123-7
37.Ntoumanis, N. (2001). A step-by-step guide to SPSS for sport and exercise studies. London: Routledge.
38.Núñez, E. F. D., Villanueva, L. M. S., Mendoza, M. A. T., Alcoser, S. D. I., Garay, J. P. P., & Hernández-Vásquez, R. (2024). Perfectionism as a paradoxical factor in sport and exercise performance: An umbrella review. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 19(2), 247.
39.O’Connor, R. C., Rasmussen, S., & Hawton, K. (2010). Predicting depression, anxiety and self-harm in adolescents: The roleof perfectionism and acute life stress.Behaviour Research and Therapy,48,52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.09.008
40.Oaten, M., & Cheng, K. (2005). Academic examination stress impairs self–control. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(2), 254–279. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.24.2.254.62276
41.Palgunadhi, F., Kurniawan, T., Jajat, J., Sultoni, K., & Nuryanti, W. D. (2024). Anxiety in Individual Game Sports and Team Game Sports. JTIKOR, 9(2), 86–90. https://doi.org/10.17509/jtikor.v9i2.81818
42.Psychountaki, M., Zervas, Y., Karteroliotis, K., & Spielberger, C. (2003). Reliability and validity of the Greek version of the STAIC. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 19(2), 124–130
43.Ramis, Y., Viladrich, C., Sousa, C., & Jannes, C. (2015). Exploring the factorial structure of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2: Invariance across language, gender, age and type of sport. Psicothema, 27(2), 174–181. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2014.263
44.Rokka, S., Mavridis, G., Bebetsos, E., & Mavridis, K. (2012). Competitive State Anxiety among Junior Handball Players. The Sport Journal, 12(1), 1–7.https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A210441844/AONE?u=anon~dbbeb925&sid=googleScholar&xid=8fad6269
45.Šimić, N., & Manenica, I. (2012). Exam experience and some reactions to exam stress. Human Physiology, 38, 67–72. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119712010161
46.Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J. S. (2001). The revised Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130–145. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2002.12069030
47.Smith, M. M., Vidovic, V., Sherry, S. B., Stewart, S. H., & Saklofske, D. H. (2018). Are perfectionism dimensions risk factors for anxiety symptoms? A meta-analysis of 11 longitudinal studies. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 31(1), 4–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2017.1384466
48.Smith, T. (1983). Competition Trait Anxiety in Youth Sport: Differences According to Age, Sex, Race and Playing Status. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 57(3), 1235–1238. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1983.57.3f.1235
49.Soltani, H., Hojati, Z.T., & Hossini, S. (2015). Comparative Analysis of Competitive State Anxiety among Team Sport and Individual Sport Athletes in Iran. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Sport and Exercise Sciences, 2.
50.Stavrou, N. A., Zervas, Y., Kakkos, V., & Psychountaki, M. (1998). Differences in intensity and direction of competitive state anxiety. In Y. Theodorakis, M. Goudas, & K. Bagiatis (Eds.). Proceeding of the 2nd International Congress of Sport Psychology: Toward the 21th century (pp. 105–108).
51.Stoeber, J., & Otto, K. (2006). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenges. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 295–319.https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr1004_2
52.Stoeber, J., & Rambow, A. (2007). Perfectionism in adolescent school students: Relations with motivation, achievement, and well-being. Personality and individual differences, 42(7), 1379–1389.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.10.015
53.Tabachnick, B. C., & Fidell, l. S. (1996) Using multivariate statistics (3rd ed). New York: Harper Collins.
54.Terry, P. C., Cox, J. A., Lane, A. M., & Karageorghis, C. I. (1996). Measures of anxiety among tennis players in singles and doubles matches. Perceptual and motor skills, 83(2), 595–603. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1996.83.2.595
55.Tsopani, D., Dallas, G., & Skordilis, E. K. (2011). Competitive state anxiety and performance in young female rhythmic gymnasts. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 112(2), 549–560. https://doi.org/10.2466/05.09.20.PMS.112.2.549-560
56.Tsorbatzoudis, H., Barkoukis, V., Kaissidis-Rodafinos, A., & Grouios, G. (1998). A test of the reliability and factorial validity of the Greek version of the CSAI-2. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 69(4), 416–419. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1998.10607717
57.Vasconcelos-Raposo, J., Teixeira, C. M., Palumbo, J., Carvalho, A., & Borges, J. (2024). Negative thoughts and self-confidence among athletes with different sports experiences: A meta-analysis. PsychTech & Health Journal, 7(2), 5-19.
58.Weinberg, R. S., & Gould, D. (2023). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Human kinetics.
59.Zisi, Th. (2017). Academic exams stress and eating behavior – the role of emotional intelligence and physical activity. Unpublished Master Thesis, University of Thessaly.