Procrastination among basic science undergraduate medical students in a Caribbean medical school

Abstract

Purpose: The study was conducted to study procrastination behavior among basic science undergraduate medical students using the previously validated procrastination assessment scale students (PASS). Frequency of and reasons for procrastination were compared among different subgroups of respondents.Methods: The study was conducted during the first two weeks of February 2017 using PASS. Gender, nationality and semester of study of the respondents were noted. PASS explores areas of and frequency of procrastination, reasons for procrastination and interest in changing the behavior. The frequency of procrastination, fear of failure, risk aversiveness, laziness and rebellion against control scores were compared among different subgroups using appropriate statistical tests.Results: A total of 107 students (84.9%) participated in the study. The mean frequency of procrastination score was 32.9 (maximum score 60). The score was significantly correlated with the respondents' gender. With regard to the percentage of students who nearly always or always procrastinated on a task, the percentages with regard to completing assignments, studying for exams, completing reading assignments, academic administrative tasks, attendance tasks and school activities in general were 25.2, 19.7, 25.2, 19.6, 18.7 and 17.7. The mean score for 'fear of failure' and 'aversiveness of task' as described by Solomon and Rothblum was 2.29 and 2.83. The mean scores for fear of failure, risk taking, and laziness were 26.17, 13.76 and 14.32. The median rebellion against control score was 6. Risk taking score was higher among respondents of other nationalities compared to Americans.Conclusions: Procrastination was regarded as a greater problem with regard to studying for exams and completing reading assignments and preparing for problem-based learning sessions. Only 42% of students were interested in attending a program to overcome procrastination. Similar studies among students during the clinical years are required. A study correlating self-reported procrastination with behavior can be carried out. Procrastination can also be studied in other offshore, Caribbean medical schools.

WITHDRAWN: Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Academic Burnout, Procrastination, Self-Handicapping Behavior, and Test Anxiety among Adolescents: A Randomized Control Trial

“…In short, academic procrastination affects students' psychological well-being and academic achievement. Procrastination is a tendency to avoid academic tasks [25]. It negatively impacts a student's learning, attitudes, and academic performance, which usually changes into academic failure when intensity increases over time [26].…”

Academic Procrastination among Gifted and Ordinary Students and its Relationship with Some Variables

“…Therefore, females can procrastinate their academic tasks to help their mothers in the housework which is their first interest. Several previous studies have shown that the academic procrastination of ordinary students at this stage was high (El-tah, 2015;Ozer & Ferrari, 2011).…”

The Prevalence of Academic Procrastination among Students at Medicine Faculty Mulawarman University

“…Procrastination is an act of intentionally postponing something which can prevent individuals from starting or completing tasks. The general tendency to procrastinate to complete tasks is also known as academic procrastination (Shankar et al, 2017). Students who procrastinate tend to have problems in academic performance.…”