Change in Basic Need Frustration in Relation to Perfectionism, Anxiety and Performance in Elite Junior Performers

Abstract

The present study examined if there were different growth profiles in basic needs frustration in elite junior performers over a nine months period. Subsequently, we examined if the identified growth profiles differed in their levels of perfectionistic strivings and evaluative concerns measured at baseline, and additionally, whether they were associated with higher or lower levels of anxiety and perceived performance level in the end of the period. A sample of 259 (Mage = 17.31; SDage= .97) elite junior performers from sports and performing arts completed an online questionnaire to report their self‐ratings of the study variables. The analyses were conducted using growth mixture modelling in Mplus 8.0. Two main contrasting growth profiles were identified in each of the basic needs frustration. Perfectionistic strivings were overall higher than evaluative concerns, but did not differ between the growth profiles. Conversely, evaluative concerns differed significantly between the identified growth profiles. Higher levels of evaluative concerns were associated with the most maladaptive growth profiles. Indeed, elite junior performers who experienced moderate and increasing levels of competence and autonomy frustration, reported higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of perceived performance level than those who reported low and decreasing levels of competence and autonomy frustration. Based on these findings, evaluative concerns and basic needs frustration appear to play key roles in the development of maladaptive motivational processes over time.