The Mediating Role of Intrinsic Motivation in the Effect of Rational Decision-Making on Academic Procrastination

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that several psychological factors commonly found in students are associated with academic procrastination. In this study, the effects of rational decision-making and intrinsic motivation on the mechanisms of academic procrastination in college students were investigated. In this context, data were collected from 689 (383 male and 306 female) students enrolled in physical education and sports at universities in Turkey using rational decision-making, academic procrastination, and intrinsic motivation scales. The results showed that students' intrinsic motivation positively influences rational decision-making and negatively influences academic procrastination behavior. In addition, intrinsic motivation has a negative influence on academic procrastination behavior. On the other hand, intrinsic motivation plays a mediating role between rational decision-making and academic procrastination behavior with a high degree of effectiveness. The effect of intrinsic motivation on the effect of rational decision-making on academic procrastination behavior is 45.2%. Thus, intrinsic motivation indirectly and significantly offsets the negative effects of students' rational decision-making on academic procrastination behavior. Since the results of the study are not only scientifically but also practically important, the analytical relationship between students' decision-making styles and academic procrastination behavior as well as the necessary predictions for all motivational components underlying procrastination leading to academic failure should be made.