Role of Decision-Making Styles and Intolerance of Uncertainty on Procrastination During the Pandemic

Abstract

Decisional procrastination in university students is affected by several factors that could hinder its reduction and, among these factors, the styles of decision-making and the tolerance of uncertainty have been poorly investigated during the pandemic. This study analyzed the associations of procrastination with decision-making styles and intolerance of uncertainty in 209 freshmen of Degrees in Psychology at the University of Catania (Italy). The Decisional Procrastination Scale, the Decision-Making Styles, and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale were used. Results: 1) decisional procrastination is associated positively with doubtfulness, and proxy, but negatively with no problem style; 2) decisional procrastination is strongly related both to prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty; 3) decision-making styles (doubtfulness, and proxy) are positively related both to prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty; finally, 4) no problem style is negatively associated both with prospective and inhibitory intolerance of uncertainty. The expected results indicated that freshmen who procrastinate in their decisions during the pandemic are likely to use dysfunctional decision-making styles and are oriented toward the unacceptability of uncertainty.