A Comparative Analysis of Maladaptive Perfectionism in Male and Female Competitive Bodybuilders

Authors

Maddox B. Utter, University of North TexasFollow
Christian O. Quintero, University of North TexasFollow
Samantha S. Dardaman, University of North TexasFollow
Stephen E. Rowden, University of North TexasFollow
Scott B. MartinFollow

Abstract

Bodybuilding is a sport focused on physique optimization, where success is determined by judges’ evaluations of muscle mass, symmetry, and definition. Due to the sport’s emphasis of physical aesthetics, bodybuilders may feel the need to compare themselves with other competitors. This evaluation and comparison of physique may expose athletes to maladaptive perfectionistic tendencies, such as setting unattainably high standards, excessive worry over mistakes, and a diminished sense of competence. While current bodybuilding literature is limited, previous research suggests that perfectionism may lead to psychological impairments (e.g., body dysmorphia, anxiety, and reduced self-confidence) which may manifest differently between male and female athletes. PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the predictive influence of maladaptive perfectionism on self-confidence and to determine if this relationship differs between male and female competitive bodybuilders. METHODS: Competitive bodybuilders (N = 287), aged 19 to 68 (M = 34.86, SD = 9.82), participated in a self-report survey that collected demographic information and psychological measures such as the Multidimensional Inventory of Perfectionism in Sport (MIPS) and the Trait Robustness of Self-Confidence Inventory (TROSCI). RESULTS: Descriptive statistics showed similar scores for male (M = 24.71, SD = 7.68) and female (M = 24.67, SD = 7.53) competitive bodybuilders regarding maladaptive perfectionism. Additionally, male (M = 41.08, SD = 13.55) and female (M = 39.70, SD = 14.13) competitors reported similar TROSCI scores. However, there were no statistically significant differences between male and female competitive bodybuilders for maladaptive perfectionism (t (285) = -0.04, p = 0.97) or self-confidence (t (285) = -0.83, p = 0.41). Nonetheless, a regression analyses revealed that maladaptive perfectionism was a stronger predictor of self-confidence for female competitive bodybuilders, accounting for 41.5% of the variance (F (1, 108) = 76.68, p < 0.01, R² = 0.42), compared to 31.2% in male competitive bodybuilders (F (1, 175) = 79.37, p < 0.01, R² = 0.31). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that while maladaptive perfectionism is a robust predictor of self-confidence in competitive bodybuilders, it has a significantly greater impact in female competitors compared to males. Future research should examine why self-confidence is more closely tethered to maladaptive perfectionism in females and investigate the underlying sociocultural or sport-specific factors that may cause this vulnerability.

Recommended Citation

Utter, Maddox B.; Quintero, Christian O.; Dardaman, Samantha S.; Rowden, Stephen E.; and Martin, Scott B. (2026) "A Comparative Analysis of Maladaptive Perfectionism in Male and Female Competitive Bodybuilders," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 246.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/246