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

This study examined the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, cultural orientation, and stigma towards help-seeking among college athletes. 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 greater stigma towards help-seeking, and that the relationship between perfectionism and stigma would be moderated by cultural orientation. A total of 61 student-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 predicted higher self-stigma and stigma towards teammates, while collectivism did not predict stigma. Moderation analyses demonstrated that collectivism buffered the effects of perfectionism, weakening its association with negative 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 when designing interventions. Integrating cultural awareness into prevention and support programs can effectively reduce barriers, normalize vulnerability, and enable athletic departments and mental health professionals to provide more inclusive care for student-athletes. This highlights important implications for both research and applied practice.