Effectiveness of an online acceptance and commitment therapy programme for perfectionism in soccer players: A randomized control trial.
Open accessAbstract
There is currently limited understanding of how to reduce perfectionism in sport. With research outside of sport as impetus, in the current study we evaluated the effectiveness of an online ACT-based intervention for reducing perfectionism and improving pre-competition emotions in soccer players. Following a pre-registered protocol, eighty-one female soccer players (M age = 24.28 years, SD = 6.77) were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 41) or a waitlist control group (n = 40). The intervention group had access to a set of online ACT-based modules for 8-weeks. Athletes completed measures of trait perfectionism, perfectionism cognitions, and pre-competition emotions pre-intervention and post-intervention. A 2 (group) x 2 (time) ANOVA revealed significant interaction effects for trait perfectionism, perfectionism cognitions, and pre-competition emotions. Following the intervention, the two groups displayed significant mean differences for trait perfectionism, perfectionism cognitions, and almost all pre-competition emotions. However, due to lower reliability of some instruments, findings regarding post-competition emotions were discounted. The findings suggest that online ACT-based interventions may be a viable and effective way to reduce perfectionism in soccer players (but not necessarily improving pre-competition emotions).
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ACT helps individuals develop a new relationship with the negative thoughts and feelings that fuel IP.
“Rather than disputing the negative thoughts and feelings that fuel IP, ACT helps individuals develop a new relationship with these experiences [25].”
From The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Internalized Shame, Fear of Success, and Anxiety Sensitivity in Nursing With Imposter (2025) · cites this paper as [25]
ACT's success in addressing internalized shame lies in its unique approach to managing self-critical thoughts and emotions.
“ACT's success in addressing internalized shame lies in its unique approach to managing self-critical thoughts and emotions [25].”
From The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Internalized Shame, Fear of Success, and Anxiety Sensitivity in Nursing With Imposter (2025) · cites this paper as [25]
This acceptance allows students to approach stressors with greater confidence and focus, enabling them to perform effectively in their academic and clinical roles.
“This acceptance allows them to approach stressors with greater confidence and focus, enabling them to perform effectively in their academic and clinical roles [25].”
From The Efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Internalized Shame, Fear of Success, and Anxiety Sensitivity in Nursing With Imposter (2025) · cites this paper as [25]
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- Authors
- Watson, D. R., Hill, A. P., Madigan, D. J., & Donachie, T. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Greater Manchester (GB)
- York St John University (GB)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Watson, Dean R.
- Venue
- Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
- Published
- 2024-02
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 5-22
- ISSN
- 2157-3905 (ISSN-L)
- 2157-3913
- OpenAlex
- W4389453439
- Cited by
- 16
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4
- FWCI
- 4.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ub-ir.bolton.ac.uk
- Locations
- Sport Exercise and Performance Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Research at York St John (York St John University) (acceptedVersion)
- UBIR (University of Greater Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- acceptance and commitment therapy, perfectionism, soccer players, online intervention, pre-competition emotions, female athletes, sport psychology intervention
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