Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026
10:17
An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
Published on: November 3, 2010
23.4K
Genetic and Environmental Associations Between Procrastination and Internalizing/Externalizing Psychopathology
Daniel E Gustavson1,2, Alta du Pont1, Alexander S Hatoum1
1University of Colorado Boulder.
Summary
Procrastination is linked to internalizing and externalizing psychopathology through shared genetic factors. Personality traits like fear of failure, neuroticism, and impulsivity explain these associations in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychopathology Research
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Procrastination is a prevalent behavior with emerging research on its genetic and environmental links.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the association between procrastination and internalizing/externalizing psychopathology.
- The role of personality constructs and shared genetic/environmental factors in these associations remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between procrastination and psychopathology.
- To determine the extent to which shared genetic/environmental factors influence these associations.
- To examine the mediating roles of fear of failure, impulsivity, and neuroticism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 764 young adult twins.
- Assessed procrastination and personality traits via questionnaires.
- Diagnosed psychopathology symptoms through structured interviews.
Main Results:
- Procrastination showed positive correlations with both internalizing and externalizing psychopathology.
- These correlations were significantly influenced by shared genetic factors.
- Fear of failure and neuroticism explained the link between procrastination and internalizing issues.
- Impulsivity primarily accounted for the association between procrastination and externalizing issues.
Conclusions:
- Shared genetic influences underpin the connection between procrastination and psychopathology.
- Specific personality traits mediate the relationship between procrastination and distinct psychopathological dimensions.
- Highlights the importance of considering common and specific variance in understanding procrastination's role in mental health.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Internal and External Forces
16.4K
Newton's first law states that a net external force causes a change in motion. External forces act on an object or system, originating outside of the object or system. In contrast, internal forces originate inside the system of interest and do not lead to any acceleration. In simpler words, internal forces are forces that act on one part of an object and are exerted by another part of the same object. External forces are forces that act on an object due to some other object. Therefore, when...
16.4K
01:24External and Internal Respiration
7.8K
External respiration occurs in the lungs, and it is the first step in the journey of oxygen inside the body. When we inhale, oxygen enters our lungs and diffuses across the thin alveolar membrane. The alveoli are tiny, air-filled sacs that provide a vast surface area for gas exchange. Oxygen in the alveoli has a higher partial pressure (105 mmHg) than in the adjacent pulmonary capillaries (40 mmHg), establishing a pressure gradient. As a result, oxygen molecules move from the alveoli into the...
7.8K
02:00Internal Energy
36.9K
The total of all possible kinds of energy present in a substance is called the internal energy (U), sometimes symbolized as E. Suppose a system with initial internal energy, Uinitial, undergoes a change in energy (transfer of work or heat), and the final internal energy of the system is Ufinal. Change in internal energy equals the difference between Ufinal and Uinitial.
36.9K
01:31Internal Receptors
74.7K
Many cellular signals are hydrophilic and therefore cannot pass through the plasma membrane. However, small or hydrophobic signaling molecules can cross the hydrophobic core of the plasma membrane and bind to internal, or intracellular, receptors that reside within the cell. Many mammalian steroid hormones use this mechanism of cell signaling, as does nitric oxide (NO) gas.
74.7K
01:11Work Done on a System by External Force
3.0K
The work done by an external force on a particle changes its kinetic energy. However, internal forces must also be considered for a system of interacting particles. The potential energy formulation helps formulate the effect of internal forces. The net work done by an external force can be written in terms of the total change of mechanical energy, which includes both kinetic and potential energies.
In the presence of a non-conservative opposing force, like friction, some part of the work done...
In the presence of a non-conservative opposing force, like friction, some part of the work done...
3.0K
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
9.3K
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
9.3K