Yips and Lost Move Syndrome : assessing impact and exploring levels of perfectionism, rumination, and reinvestment

This study examined whether the yips and lost move syndrome (LMS) are associated with higher levels of perfectionism, rumination, and reinvestment, and whether individuals experiencing these problems perceive them as highly stressful. Samples of yips (N = 15) and LMS-affected (N = 15) individuals, and two matched control groups, completed the Frost multidimensional perfectionism scale (FMPS; Frost, Marten, Lahart & Rosenblate, 1990), the ruminative response scale (RRS; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991), the reinvestment scale (Masters, Polman & Hammond, 1993), and the impact of event scale (IES; Horowitz, Wilner & Alverez, 1979). Findings indicate higher scores in the yips and LMS groups for perfectionism, rumination, reinvestment, and IES compared to their respective control groups. The results suggest that rumination, reinvestment, and aspects of perfectionism increase vulnerability to the yips and LMS, and that that both the yips and LMS are equally distressing. Keywords: performance block, anxiety, trauma, self-focussed attention.