The present study aims to investigate the relationship of positive and negative perfectionism with competitive state anxiety in adolescent handball players in Khuzestan province in Iran. The study adopts a descriptive-correlational study and was carried out as a field study. The data was collected using a researcher-made personal data sheet, Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS) and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-I (CSAI-1).The population of the study consisted of a number of eight junior handball teams in Khuzestan including 76 players. Cronbach Alpha formula, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The level of significance was considered to be α=0.05 for all hypotheses. The results showed no significant negative correlation between positive perfectionism and competitive state anxiety and all its subscales. However, the results revealed a significant positive correlation between negative perfectionism and competitive state anxiety and all its subscales. The results of regression analysis showed that both positive and negative perfectionism may predict competitive state anxiety and all its subscales in adolescent handball players. Therefore, it is recommended that the factors contributing to negative perfectionism be controlled so that competitive state anxiety and all its subscales may decrease in the athletes. High level of competitive state anxiety adversely affects athletic performance. It is recommended that coping techniques be used to reduce anxiety.
