Chronic Procrastination Among Iranians: Prevalence Estimation, Latent Profile and Network Analyses

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Procrastination is defined as the intentional delay of actions despite negative consequences.
• Understanding the prevalence and psychological correlates of procrastination is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of procrastination in the Iranian adult population.
• To identify demographic and psychological factors associated with procrastination.
• To explore the network structure of procrastination and its related variables.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale online survey (N=2,076) was conducted with a diverse adult population.
• Latent profile analysis and network analysis were employed to identify distinct profiles and relationships between variables.
• Data included self-reported measures of procrastination, psychological distress, personality traits, and self-efficacy.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of procrastination was 15.4%, with higher rates among women and divorced individuals, and lower rates among nomadic individuals and those with higher education.
• Two distinct profiles emerged: procrastinators (high in distress, neuroticism, extraversion; low in self-efficacy, self-esteem, life satisfaction, conscientiousness) and non-procrastinators.
• Network analysis indicated that key study variables were peripheral, not central, in the procrastination network, suggesting a complex interplay of factors.

Conclusions:

• Procrastination exhibits demographic variations and is linked to a specific psychological profile.
• The network structure suggests that no single variable is a primary vulnerability for procrastination.
• Relying solely on mean score differences may not be optimal for therapeutic interventions; a network-based approach may be more informative.