Citation

Westgate EC, Wormington SV, Oleson KC, Lindgren KP. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 2017; 47(3): 124-135.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jasp.12417

PMID

28804158

PMCID

PMC5551689

Abstract

Productive procrastination replaces one adaptive behavior with another adaptive-albeit less important-behavior (e.g., organizing notes instead of studying for an exam). We identified adaptive and maladaptive procrastination styles associated with academic and alcohol outcomes in 1106 college undergraduates. Cluster analysis identified five academic procrastination styles-non-procrastinators, academic productive procrastinators, non-academic productive procrastinators, non-academic procrastinators, and classic procrastinators. Procrastination style differentially predicted alcohol-related problems, cravings, risk of alcohol use disorders, and GPA (all ps <.01). Non-procrastination and academic productive procrastination were most adaptive overall; non-academic productive procrastination, non-academic procrastination, and classic procrastination were least adaptive. Productive procrastination differed from other procrastination strategies, and maladaptive procrastination styles may be a useful risk indicator for preventative and intervention efforts.

Language: en

Keywords

GPA; alcohol; college students; drinking; person-centered analysis; procrastination