Culture moderates the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and stigma towards help-seeking among college athletes

In this study, the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, cultural orientation, and stigma towards help-seeking among college athletes was examined. Prior research suggests that perfectionism, stigma, and culture independently contribute to reluctance in seeking psychological services. However, their interaction in athletic populations remains underexplored. We hypothesized that stronger collectivist values and higher levels of perfectionism would predict an increase in stigma towards help-seeking, and that the relationship between perfectionism and stigma would be moderated by cultural orientation. A total of 61 college athletes at Northeastern and Southeastern United States colleges in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) completed an online survey, including measures of perfectionism, cultural orientation, and multiple forms of stigma, including self-stigma, perceived stigma, and stigma directed towards teammates. Regression results revealed that socially prescribed perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation were positively associated with greater self-stigma and perceived stigma. Additionally, individualism was associated with higher self-stigma and stigma towards teammates, while collectivism was not. Moderation analyses demonstrated that collectivism weakened the relationship between perfectionism and help-seeking attitudes. These findings suggest that perfectionism and individualistic values may increase stigma, whereas collectivism may serve as a protective factor. Overall, the study underscores the importance of addressing perfectionistic attitudes and calls for more research. Integrating cultural awareness into prevention and support programs may effectively reduce barriers, normalize vulnerability, and enable athletic departments and mental health professionals to provide more inclusive care for college athletes. This highlights important implications for both research and applied practice.