Participants

The participants were vocational dancers recruited from professional modern dance companies in Korea. Initially, 232 dancers were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires. Among them, 226 dancers completed the questionnaires. A total of 81.5% were female (n = 184) and 118.5% were male (n = 42). Their ages ranged from 22 to 50 years (Mage = 34.24yrs, SD = 6.24). Twenty-nine dancers had dance experience of less than 10 years (12.8%), 122 dancers had from 11 to 20 years (54%), 65 had 21 to 30 years (28.8%), and 10 dancers had more than 31 years of dance experience (4.4%).

Measures

Perfectionism. Dancers’ perceptions of their perfectionistic tendencies were measured using the Korean version of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-Kr; Han, 1993). The MPS-Kr, like the original MPS developed by Hewitt and Flett (1991), consists of 15 items assessing self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) and 15 items assessing socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). All items were rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The reliability of the MPS-Kr subscales was α = .83 for SOP and α = .80 for SPP (Han, 1993).

Coping Tendencies. Coping tendencies were assessed using the Korean Athlete Sport Coping Scale (K-ASCS; Yoo & Park, 1998). The instrument consists of four subscales: problem-focused coping (PFC), emotion-focused coping, avoidant coping (AC), and detached coping, each comprising eight items rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (almost never) to 5 (always). Consistent with the study’s focus and prior work in performance settings, only the PFC and AC subscales were administered (Hill et al., 2010).

Psychological Well-Being. Psychological well-being (PWB) among dancers was measured using the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form (MHC-SF; Yim et al., 2012), which contains three subscales: emotional well-being (3 items), social well-being (5 items), and psychological well-being (6 items). Participants were asked to indicate the frequency of their feelings about each statement over the past month. The MHC-SF was rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (never) to 6 (every day).

Psychological Ill-Being. Consistent with previous studies (Balaguer et al., 2012), the Korean version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ-Kr; Choi et al., 2017) was used to measure dancers’ psychological ill-being (PIW). The ABQ-Kr, like the original ABQ developed by Raedeke and Smith (2001), comprises three subscales that assess physical and emotional exhaustion, reduced sense of accomplishment, and sport devaluation. Each subscale comprises five items, rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (almost never) to 5 (always). Minor wording modifications were made to tailor the items for dancers; specifically, the word “sport” was replaced with “dance.” For example, one item reads, “I am exhausted by the mental and physical demands of dance.” Choi et al. (2017) reported that the Korean version of the ABQ demonstrates adequate reliability and validity.

Procedures and Data Analysis

After obtaining the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the authors first contacted the head directors of professional modern dance companies in Korea and explained the purpose and procedures of this study. With the directors’ agreements, they visited dancers during practice hours and asked them to fill out the informed consent form first, the demographic questionnaire, and then respond to the series of questionnaires. Participants were informed that participation in this study was entirely voluntary and that they could stop responding to the questionnaires at any time without penalty or consequence. All responses were kept confidential

The data were collected on-site and then analyzed using SPSS 25.0 for descriptive statistics and Mplus 7 to conduct structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the full structural model. Anderson and Gerbing’s (1988) two-step approach was utilized to evaluate the full structural model, including both the measurement and structural models. The measurement model was tested to examine the relationships between latent variables and their indicator variables, whereas the structural model was evaluated to assess the causal relationships among latent variables (Hair et al., 2010). The bootstrapping technique used for testing the mediation effect (Kline, 2023) provided 95% biascorrected (BC) bootstrapped confidence intervals (CIs) to determine the significance of the indirect effects. For the mediation analysis, 5,000 bootstrap samples were generated.

Model fit was evaluated using the chi-square (χ²) test, normed chi-square (NC; i.e., χ²/df), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI). Previous studies have suggested that values of NC below 3.0 (Kline, 2023), RMSEA below .08 (MacCallum et al., 1996), SRMR below .08, and CFI and TLI above .95 (Hu & Bentler, 1999) indicate acceptable model fit. Construct reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) were calculated to assess convergent validity. The suggested cut-off points for CR (≥ .70) and AVE (≥ .50) were used as reference criteria (Hair et al., 2010).

Descriptive Statistics

Table 1 shows descriptive statistics, reliability coefficients, and intercorrelations for all subscales. All variables indicated satisfactory univariate skewness and kurtosis. The overall values of skewness and kurtosis ranged from -.25 to .09 and from -.02 to .78, respectively, and thus, the univariate normality was supported in that the absolute value of each item’s skewness was below 2 and kurtosis was below 7.

Measurement Model

The measurement model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data, χ² (296) = 529.48, p < .001, χ²/df = 1.79, CFI = .89, TLI = .91, RMSEA = .06, and SRMR = .07. All standardized factor loadings ranged from .50 to .93, indicating that each observed variable adequately represented its respective latent construct. Composite reliability (CR) values ranged from .71 to .89, and average variance extracted (AVE) values ranged from .52 to .73, both exceeding the recommended cutoff points of .70 and .50, respectively (Hair et al., 2010). These results provided evidence for satisfactory convergent validity and internal consistency. Furthermore, each construct’s AVE value exceeded the squared inter-construct correlations, confirming discriminant validity (Fornell & Larcker, 1981).

Structural Model

To test our hypotheses, we conducted path analyses of the structural model. Figure 1 shows the results of the path coefficients among the subscales. The structural model also demonstrated acceptable fit indices, χ² (298) = 605.11, p < .001, χ²/df = 2.03, CFI = .90, TLI = .89, RMSEA = .068, and SRMR = .07. Self-oriented perfectionism significantly predicted problem-focused coping (β = .53, p < .001), avoidant coping (β = -.19, p < .05), and psychological well-being (β = .22, p < .05). Problem-focused coping, in turn, positively predicted psychological well-being (β = .29, p < .05), whereas avoidant coping positively predicted psychological ill-being (β = .53, p < .001). Socially prescribed perfectionism was positively related to psychological well-being (β = .17, p < .05) but not to psychological well-being. Bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples was conducted to examine the indirect pathways. The analysis revealed significant indirect effects consistent with the hypothesized mediation model. The relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and psychological well-being was partially mediated by problem-focused coping (β = .15, p < .01, SE = .06, 95 % CI [.05, .28]). In contrast, the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and psychological ill-being was fully mediated by avoidant coping (β = -.10, p < .05, SE = .05, 95 % CI [-.21, -.02]).

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Figure 1

Structural equation model with standardized estimates in the relation between self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, problem-focused coping, avoidance coping, psychological well-being, and psychological ill-being. Only significant paths are presented.

Discussion

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among perfectionism, coping styles, and psychological well-being and ill-being in dancers. The results supported the hypothesized model derived from previous research on athletes and performing artists, demonstrating that self-oriented perfectionism predicted both adaptive and maladaptive coping styles, which, in turn, influenced dancers’ psychological health outcomes. Specifically, self-oriented perfectionism positively predicted problem-focused coping and psychological well-being, while negatively predicting avoidant coping. Furthermore, problem-focused coping was positively related to psychological well-being, whereas avoidant coping was strongly related to psychological ill-being. The bootstrapping analysis revealed that the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and psychological well-being was partially mediated by problem-focused coping. In contrast, the link between self-oriented perfectionism and psychological ill-being was fully mediated by avoidant coping. Additionally, socially prescribed perfectionism was found to predict psychological ill-being directly, underscoring the detrimental role of externally imposed perfectionistic standards. These findings collectively highlight that the influence of perfectionism on dancers’ mental health is contingent upon the nature of their perfectionistic tendencies and the coping strategies they employ.

Adaptive Pathways: Self-Oriented Perfectionism, Problem-Focused Coping, and Well-Being

The positive association between self-oriented perfectionism and problem-focused coping found in this study aligns with the notion that self-oriented perfectionism as an indicator of perfectionistic strivings can be an adaptive motivational force when managed constructively (Appleton et al., 2009; Hill et al., 2008). Dancers with high self-oriented perfectionism appear to set high personal standards not solely to avoid failure but to attain mastery and artistic excellence. This form of perfectionism has been linked to greater selfregulation, persistence, and effective problem-solving in performance contexts (Appleton et al., 2009; Madigan et al., 2018). Consistent with recent research in athlete and performance populations, self-oriented perfectionism was positively related to psychological well-being, suggesting that dancers who channel their perfectionistic strivings into self-improvement and goal-directed coping may experience enhanced satisfaction, confidence, and fulfillment in their performances (Hill et al., 2010; Madigan et al., 2018).

The partial mediation observed through problemfocused coping supports the view that adaptive coping functions as a psychological buffer, translating perfectionistic effort into growth-oriented behavior rather than self-criticism. This aligns with the stress– coping model proposed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984), which posits that problem-focused strategies reduce stress appraisal and promote active adaptation. In line with this notion, dancers who engage in reflective self-evaluation, seek feedback, and develop action plans are more likely to maintain mental stability under high evaluative pressures. In contrast, when perfectionistic strivings are not accompanied by constructive coping, they may deteriorate into self-doubt and frustration (Flett et al., 2015). Thus, this pathway underscores that perfectionism per se is not inherently maladaptive; rather, its psychological outcomes are contingent upon the nature of the coping mechanisms employed.

Maladaptive Pathways: Avoidant Coping and Psychological Ill-Being

In contrast to the adaptive effects of self-oriented perfectionism, the findings revealed a maladaptive pathway wherein avoidant coping mediated the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and psychological ill-being. Although self-oriented perfectionists strive for excellence, their internal standards can become psychologically taxing when setbacks occur. When dancers attempt to avoid confronting stressors by denial, withdrawal, or self-blame, their stress responses intensify, leading to emotional exhaustion and decreased well-being (Gustafsson et al., 2011; Pentith et al., 2021; Madigan et al., 2018). The full mediation by avoidant coping indicates that maladaptive coping styles serve as the primary mechanism through which perfectionistic tendencies transform from potentially positive motivation into psychological distress (Montano, 2025).

This finding is particularly relevant in the context of dance, where self-evaluation and public scrutiny are constant. In expressive performance contexts, where emotional authenticity and aesthetic precision are simultaneously demanded, avoidant coping may severely disrupt both artistic expression and psychological regulation. Avoidant coping may manifest in behaviors such as excessive rumination after rehearsals, reluctance to discuss mistakes, or avoidance of critical feedback. These maladaptive responses perpetuate a cycle of anxiety and underperformance, reinforcing feelings of inadequacy (Nordin-Bates & Jowett, 2022; Nordin-Bates, 2020). Moreover, the significant predictive link between avoidant coping and psychological ill-being suggests that dancers who fail to confront performance-related stressors are vulnerable to chronic stress symptoms, including burnout, depression, and reduced self-worth (Jowett et al., 2021; Hill et al., 2020). These results also align with prior findings in both athletes and vocational dancers, where avoidance coping was consistently associated with negative affect and exhaustion (Gustafsson et al., 2011; Dwarika & Haraldsen, 2023).

Socially Prescribed Perfectionism and External Pressures

Another critical finding was that socially prescribed perfectionism directly predicted psychological ill-being, independent of coping styles. This outcome aligns with earlier research suggesting that externally imposed perfectionistic standards are particularly detrimental in aesthetic and performance domains (Atienza et al., 2020; Jowett et al., 2021). Dancers who perceive that instructors, choreographers, or peers expect flawless performance may internalize these pressures, leading to heightened self-consciousness and fear of negative evaluation (Haraldsen et al., 2019). Unlike self-oriented perfectionism, which may drive intrinsic motivation, socially prescribed perfectionism reflects an external locus of control that undermines autonomy and psychological resilience (Deci & Ryan, 2000). Consistent with motivational models of perfectionism (Atienza et al., 2020), dancers’ adaptive striving may stem from intrinsic or identified forms of motivation, whereas socially prescribed perfectionism may reflect introjected or external regulation, increasing vulnerability to ill-being.

The dance environment, characterized by subjective evaluation and aesthetic ideals, can amplify these effects. When dancers believe their worth is contingent upon external approval, they are less likely to engage in adaptive coping, as self-disclosure or help-seeking may be perceived as weakness (Nordin-Bates & Jowett, 2022). This aligns with findings that socially prescribed perfectionism correlates with higher anxiety, disordered eating, and performance burnout (Atienza et al., 2020; Jowett et al., 2021). The present results thus emphasize that external pressures, rather than the pursuit of excellence itself, are key predictors of psychological ill-being among dancers. Cultivating autonomysupportive teaching environments may therefore be essential to reducing the detrimental impact of socially prescribed perfectionism (Nordin-Bates, 2020).

Although socially prescribed perfectionism has been widely associated with maladaptive coping tendencies in performance contexts, the present findings did not support significant associations between socially prescribed perfectionism and coping processes. That is, socially prescribed perfectionism was directly associated with psychological ill-being, whereas its associations with problem-focused and avoidant coping were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that externally imposed performance expectations may operate as a direct psychological burden in highly evaluative dance environments, independent of specific coping tendencies (Atienza et al., 2020; Stoeber, 2011). In contrast to self-oriented perfectionism, whose effects on psychological outcomes were contingent upon coping strategies, socially prescribed perfectionism appears to exert its influence through more immediate cognitive-emotional processes, such as fear of negative evaluation and contingent self-worth, which are closely tied to controlled forms of motivation and external regulation (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Hill et al., 2010).

Beyond individual traits, social and institutional climates may also moderate the impact of perfectionism on coping and psychological outcomes. Autonomysupportive environments where instructors emphasize personal improvement, provide constructive feedback, and frame mistakes as learning opportunities can buffer the maladaptive effects of perfectionistic concerns and foster more adaptive coping patterns (Haraldsen et al., 2019; Nordin-Bates & Jowett, 2022). Conversely, controlling or punitive climates may reinforce socially prescribed perfectionism, heighten performance anxiety, and promote avoidance-based coping behaviors (Jowett et al., 2021). These findings align with self- determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) and contemporary qualitative research indicating that autonomy-supportive teaching enhances intrinsic motivation, trust, and psychological safety in dance training (Clements & Nordin-Bates, 2024; Nordin- Bates, 2020). Future research should examine how motivational climates, institutional norms, and leadership styles influence dancers’ coping behaviors and emotional regulation. Longitudinal or multilevel designs could clarify whether autonomy-supportive teaching practices buffer against the cumulative effects of socially prescribed perfectionism over time, thereby sustaining both well-being and artistic engagement.

The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies

The bootstrapping results further illuminate the mediating role of coping strategies in the perfectionism and mental health relationship. The partial mediation through problem-focused coping suggests that while perfectionistic strivings can enhance well-being, their positive effects are maximized only when accompanied by adaptive coping behaviors. Conversely, the full mediation of avoidant coping indicates that maladaptive strategies are a critical mechanism through which perfectionism leads to ill-being. These dual pathways reinforce the conceptual framework that coping acts as a pivotal bridge between personality traits and psychological outcomes (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Hill et al., 2010).

These findings hold particular significance for dancers, whose professional demands require continuous psychological regulation and adaptive functioning. Dance training environments often involve perfectionistic norms and repetitive failure-feedback cycles that challenge performers’ emotional stability. Encouraging problem-focused coping behaviors such as setting incremental goals, seeking mentorship, and reflecting on progress can help dancers reinterpret perfectionistic tendencies as constructive challenges rather than threats. In contrast, avoidant behaviors exacerbate emotional fatigue, hinder learning, and perpetuate maladaptive perfectionism (Atienza et al., 2020; Hill et al., 2020; Madigan et al., 2015; Nordin- Bates, 2020). The dual mediation pattern underscores that promoting adaptive coping is not merely beneficial but necessary to prevent perfectionism from becoming a risk factor for mental health deterioration (Almásy & Soltész-Várhelyi, 2025; Arbinaga, 2025).

Applied Implications and Future Research Directions

These findings offer practical insights for dance teachers and mental performance consultants working within the dance context. First, teachers should differentiate between adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism when providing feedback. By emphasizing self-referenced improvement rather than external comparison, teachers can help dancers transform perfectionistic tendencies into productive motivation (Madigan et al., 2018). Second, mental performance consultants can incorporate coping skills training into dancer development programs, focusing on problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, and emotional awareness (Nordin-Bates, 2020; Nordin- Bates & Jowett, 2022). Such interventions can foster resilience and reduce reliance on avoidance-based responses during high-stress situations such as auditions or performances (Arbinaga, 2025).

Moreover, establishing autonomy-supportive learning climates where mistakes are framed as learning opportunities can reduce the impact of socially prescribed perfectionism (Deci & Ryan, 2000; Jowett et al., 2021). Encouraging open discussions about mental health, providing peer support systems, and integrating reflective practices such as journaling or mindfulness can further strengthen dancers’ capacity for adaptive coping (Yu et al., 2025). These psychological interventions align with best practices in sport and performance psychology, where mental skills training is regarded as a vital complement to physical and technical preparation (Haraldsen et al., 2019; Nicholls, 2021).

The experience of injury provides another critical context in which perfectionism and coping intersect. Injuries disrupt dancers’ sense of competence and identity, often challenging the perfectionistic self-concept that equates worth with performance (Atienza et al., 2020; Nordin-Bates, 2020; Pentith et al., 2021). Dancers with high levels of maladaptive perfectionism may interpret injury as personal failure, leading to guilt, frustration, and premature return pressures that heighten psychological distress (Nordin-Bates et al., 2023). In contrast, those who adopt problem-focused coping strategies such as seeking medical guidance, adjusting goals, and engaging in structured rehabilitation tend to maintain emotional stability and recover more effectively (Hill & Curran, 2016). These observations reinforce the notion that coping not only mediates the emotional effects of perfectionism but also moderates recovery outcomes in high-performance contexts. Future studies could explore intervention programs that integrate psychological coping training into injury rehabilitation or investigate how perfectionism-related cognitive patterns affect adherence to medical recovery protocols.