The Mediating Role of Competence Contingent Self-WorthIn line with the hypotheses, mediated effects of parental conditional regard on perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns via com- petence contingent self-worth were significant. Although this causal chain is discussed in many theoretical accounts of perfectionism develop- ment (e.g., Flett et al., 2002; Hamachek, 1978;Hewitt et al., 2017), this study is the first to give it empirical support. Using conditional regard, parents withhold love and affection when their children fail to meet their expectations. Hence, this parenting practice inculcates contingencies of self-worth associated with expressions of competence, and these contingencies perpetuate a state of hypervigilance for competence- affirming (and disconfirming) information. To avoid the psychological pain of incompetence signaling love-withdrawal, then, young athletes appear to respond by adopting excessively high personal standards and harsh self-evaluative tendencies that are indicative of perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns.