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

Abstract

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.

Effectiveness of Psychotherapy on Suicidal Risk: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

“…Future observational studies in this area should provide precise measurements of the exposure, as well as a detailed description of the components of psychotherapeutic interventions and the outcome variables of interest. Additional recommendations include a consensual terminology, notifying patients of the potential risks of therapies during the informed consent process, and clear procedures for monitoring and reporting side effects (Guidi et al, 2018; Rozental et al, 2018).…”

Struggling with perfectionism: When good enough is not good enough

“…Therapy can help clients to understand the secondary problems that arise from perfectionism (e.g., periods of moodiness, frequent interpersonal conflict) as a means of motivating them to find new ways of behaving (Kutlesa & Arthur, 2008). However, with the current state of the field, psychological treatments seem to have only a modest impact on levels of perfectionism (Rozental et al, 2018). Future research may improve this situation.…”

“…Perfectionism makes a person prone to worry (Santananello & Gardner, 2007) and other forms or repetitive thinking (Macedo et al, 2015). As the person struggles to meet their own high expectations, worry triggers a tendency to procrastinate (Rozental et al, 2018) and avoidnegative experiences (Santananello & Gardner, 2007).…”

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

“…A recently published meta-analysis comes to the conclusion that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which incorporates many of the aforementioned techniques, is the treatment of choice for procrastination (van Eerde and Klingsieck, 2018). Another meta-analysis by Rozental et al (2018a) found small benefits for psychological treatments in general ( N = 12; g = 0.45, 95% CI [0.11, 0.56]) and moderate effects for CBT (subgroup analysis, N = 3: g = 0.55, 95% CI [0.32, 0.77]). However, given the small number of high-quality studies, significant heterogeneity and often small sample sizes, the authors conclude that there is a great need for high-quality adequately powered RCTs (Rozental et al, 2018a).…”

“…Another meta-analysis by Rozental et al (2018a) found small benefits for psychological treatments in general ( N = 12; g = 0.45, 95% CI [0.11, 0.56]) and moderate effects for CBT (subgroup analysis, N = 3: g = 0.55, 95% CI [0.32, 0.77]). However, given the small number of high-quality studies, significant heterogeneity and often small sample sizes, the authors conclude that there is a great need for high-quality adequately powered RCTs (Rozental et al, 2018a).…”