Explaining the changes in procrastination in an ACT-based course - psychological flexibility and time and effort...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Procrastination is a common issue among students.
• Time management skills and psychological flexibility are potential moderators.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a framework for behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between procrastination, time management skills, and psychological flexibility.
• To examine changes in these factors during an ACT-based course with time management training.
• To explore the influence of time management skills and psychological flexibility on procrastination.

Main Methods:

• Experimental design utilizing an ACT-based well-being course.
• Participants included 109 students in the course and 27 on a waiting list.
• Analyses involved Pearson correlation, mixed ANOVA, and causal mediation analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant relationships were found between time management skills, psychological flexibility, and procrastination.
• All three factors demonstrated changes during the ACT-based course.
• Improvements in time management and psychological flexibility significantly impacted the reduction in procrastination.

Conclusions:

• ACT-based interventions incorporating time management training can effectively reduce procrastination.
• Enhancing psychological flexibility and time management skills are key targets for intervention.
• The study highlights the interconnectedness of these psychological constructs in student well-being.