Perfectionism, Motives, and Barriers to Exercise from a Person-Oriented Approach.

Perfectionism is considered to be a significant personality factor within the sport and exercise field. However, very little is known about the reasons why individuals with different perfectionistic tendencies engage or not in physical activity. This study aims, from a person-oriented approach, to analyze if participation motives and barriers may differ among four perfectionistic profiles: (low perfectionistic strivings, PS, and perfectionistic concerns, PC), (high PS and low PC), (high PS and PC), and (moderate PS and PC). A sample composed of 597 ( = 22.08, = 3.33) undergraduates enrolled in a sport science degree from Ecuador participated in this study. reported lower levels of motives, whereas and reported higher scores on all participation motives. Significant and positive correlations were found between PS and both autonomous and controlled motives, whereas PC was positively correlated with controlled reasons and only significantly correlated with some autonomous reasons by the effect of PS. In terms of barriers, reported significantly higher scores on all barriers analyzed in comparison with the other three profiles, with moderate and large effect sizes. The results of the bivariate and partial correlations suggest that these inter-profile differences were explained by PC. Considering the results, it is advised to develop strategies to identify in order to increase their intrinsic reasons for practicing physical exercise, and to minimize their perceived barriers.