Procrastination and Depression from a Cognitive Perspective: An Exploration of the Associations Among Procrastinatory Automatic Thoughts, Rumination, and Mindfulness

Flett, Alison L.; Haghbin, Mohsen; Pychyl, Timothy A.

doi:10.1007/s10942-016-0235-1

Cited by 74 publications

(39 citation statements)

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“…Although not everyone might have a clinical problem that warrants treatment (Rozental and Carlbring, 2014), studies have revealed significant relationships between self-report measures of procrastination, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life, with average correlations being in the moderate range (van Eerde, 2003b; Steel, 2007; Beutel et al, 2016). Moreover, procrastination has been linked to perfectionistic concerns (Sirois et al, 2017), rumination and lowered mood (Flett et al, 2016), and excessive worry and generalized anxiety disorder (Stober and Joormann, 2001). Similarly, a number of investigations on the physical and well-being aspects of procrastination have shown that it can affect the ability to initiate and engage in so-called health behaviors, e.g., medical checkups, diets, and exercise (Sirois et al, 2003; 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting Procrastination Using Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2018

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Background: Procrastination can be stressful and frustrating, but it seldom causes any major distress. However, for some people, it can become problematic, resulting in anxiety, lowered mood, physical complaints, and decreased well-being. Still, few studies have investigated the benefits of targeting procrastination. In addition, no attempt has previously been made to determine the overall efficacy of providing psychological treatments.Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching for eligible records in Scopus, Proquest, and Google Scholar. Only randomized controlled trials comparing psychological treatments for procrastination to an inactive comparator and assessing the outcomes by a self-report measure were included. A random effects model was used to determine the standardized mean difference Hedge's g at post-treatment. Furthermore, test for heterogeneity was performed, fail-safe N was calculated, and the risk of bias was explored. The study was pre-registered at Prospero: CRD42017069981.Results: A total of 1,639 records were identified, with 12 studies (21 comparisons, N = 718) being included in the quantitative synthesis. Overall effect size g when comparing treatment to control was 0.34, 95% Confidence Interval [0.11, 0.56], but revealing significant heterogeneity, Q(20) = 46.99, p < 0.00, and I2 = 61.14%, 95% CI [32.83, 84.24]. Conducting a subgroup analysis of three out of four studies using cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) found an effect size g of 0.55, 95% CI [0.32, 0.77], and no longer showing any heterogeneity, Q(4) = 3.92, p = 0.42, I2 = 0.00%, 95% CI [0.00, 91.02] (N = 236). Risk of publication bias, as assessed by the Egger's test was not significant, z = −1.05, p = 0.30, fail-safe N was 370 studies, and there was some risk of bias as rated by two independent researchers. In terms of secondary outcomes, the self-report measures were too varied to present an aggregated estimate.Conclusions: Psychological treatments seem to have small benefits on procrastination, but the studies displayed significant between-study variation. Meanwhile, CBT was associated with a moderate benefit, but consisted of only three studies. Recommendations for future research are provided, including the use of more valid and reliable outcomes and a screening interview at intake.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting Procrastination Using Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2018

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“…Negative mood is a common focus of this temporal trade-off; the source of this negative mood may, however, vary. For example, negative affective states can arise from the anticipation of having to complete an aversive task (Flett, Stainton, Hewitt, Sherry, & Lay, 2012;Solomon & Rothblum, 1984), or more generally from the negative selfevaluations and cognitions that are pervasive with procrastination (Flett, Haghbin, & Pychyl, 2016;McCown et al, 2012;Sirois, 2014c), and which may become heightened in the context of having to complete an undesirable task.…”

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confidence: 99%

Giving in when feeling less good: Procrastination, action control, and social temptations

Sirois

Giguère

2018

British J Social Psychol

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Emotion-regulation perspectives on procrastination highlighting the primacy of short-term mood regulation focus mainly on negative affect. Positive affect, however, has received much less attention and has not been considered with respect to social temptations. To address this issue, we examined how trait procrastination was linked to positive and negative affect in the context of social temptations across two prospective studies. Action Control Theory, Personality Systems Interactions Theory, and a mood regulation theory of procrastination served as guiding conceptual frameworks. In Study 1, moderated mediation analyses revealed that low positive affect explained the link between trait procrastination and time spent procrastinating on academic tasks over a 48-hr period in a student sample (N = 142), and this effect was moderated by the presence of social temptations. Parallel results for goal enjoyment assessed at Time 2 were found in Study 2 with a community sample (N = 94) attempting to make intended health behaviour changes over a 6-month period. Our findings indicate that procrastinators are at risk for disengaging from intended tasks when social temptations are present and positive task-related affect is low.

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“…A second strength is our comprehensive assessment. Although procrastination is not classified as a mental disorder, there are studies showing that procrastination can be correlated to generalized anxiety disorder (Stöber and Joormann, 2001) or rumination and depression (Flett et al, 2016). Other studies found procrastination to be linked to further negative outcomes such as higher stress, fatigue, illness susceptibility and worse performance in exams (Beutel et al, 2016; Höcker et al, 2013; Stead et al, 2010; Steel, 2007; Tice and Baumeister, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of an internet-based intervention for procrastination in college students (StudiCare Procrastination): Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Küchler

Albus²,

Ebert³

et al. 2019

Internet Interventions

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Background Procrastination, defined as irrational and voluntary delaying of necessary tasks, is widespread and clinically relevant. Its high prevalence among college students comes with serious consequences for mental health and well-being of those affected. Research for proper treatment is still relatively scarce and treatment of choice seems to be cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of an internet- and mobile-based intervention (IMI) for procrastination based on CBT for college students. Methods A two-armed randomized controlled trial with a calculated sample size of N = 120 participants with problematic procrastination behavior will be conducted. Students will be recruited in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via circular emails at 15+ cooperating universities in the framework of StudiCare, a well-established project that provides IMIs to college students for different health related issues. The intervention group will receive the e-coach guided 5-week IMI StudiCare Procrastination. A waitlist-control group will get access to the unguided IMI 12 weeks after randomization. Assessments will take place before as well as 6 and 12 weeks after randomization. Primary outcome is procrastination, measured by the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS). Secondary outcomes include susceptibility to temptation, depression, anxiety, wellbeing and self-efficacy as well as acceptability aspects such as intervention satisfaction, adherence and potential side effects. Additionally, several potential moderators as well as the potential mediators self-efficacy and susceptibility to temptation will be examined exploratorily. Data-analysis will be performed on intention-to-treat basis. Discussion This study will contribute to the evidence concerning effectiveness and acceptability of an intervention for procrastination delivered via the internet. If it shows to be effective, StudiCare Procrastination could provide a low-threshold, cost-efficient way to help the multitude of students suffering from problems caused by procrastination. Trial registration : The trial is registered at the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Clinical Studies Trial Register (DRKS): DRKS00014321 (date of registration: 06.04.2018). In case of important protocol modifications, trial registration will be updated. Trial status : This is protocol version number 1, 11th December 2019. Recruitment started 9th of April 2018 and was completed 30th of November 2018. Assessment and intervention are still ongoing and will be completed by April 2019.

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Procrastination and Depression from a Cognitive Perspective: An Exploration of the Associations Among Procrastinatory Automatic Thoughts, Rumination, and Mindfulness

Cited by 74 publications

References 50 publications

Targeting Procrastination Using Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Targeting Procrastination Using Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Giving in when feeling less good: Procrastination, action control, and social temptations

Effectiveness of an internet-based intervention for procrastination in college students (StudiCare Procrastination): Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

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