Future time perspective and training procrastination in Chinese collegiate athletes: self-control mediation and the...

This cross-sectional study examined the association between future time perspective (FTP) and training procrastination in Chinese collegiate athletes, with self-control as a mediator and mastery-approach (MAp) and performance-avoidance (PAv) goals as motivational boundary conditions.

Participants were 1,674 collegiate athletes from 48 Chinese higher education institutions in 15 provincial-level regions. FTP was measured with the Future subscale of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, self-control with the Brief Self-Control Scale, MAp and PAv goals with selected subscales of the Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport, and training procrastination with a training-adapted Irrational Procrastination Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis evaluated measurement validity. Structural equation modeling tested the indirect pathway through self-control. Hierarchical regression and PROCESS Model 5 tested direct and separate moderation effects, and simultaneous-interaction regression entered both goal orientations and interactions as a robustness check.

FTP was negatively associated with training procrastination (β = -0.342, p < 0.001) and positively associated with self-control (β = 0.211, p < 0.001); self-control was negatively associated with training procrastination (β = -0.295, p < 0.001). The indirect effect via self-control was significant (β = -0.063, 95% CI [-0.080, -0.046]), accounting for 15.56% of the total effect. In separate PROCESS models, MAp strengthened the negative FTP-procrastination association (B = -0.072, p < 0.001), whereas PAv weakened it (B = 0.058, p < 0.01). In the simultaneous-interaction model, FTP × MAp remained significant (B = -0.058, p = 0.020), whereas FTP × PAv was non-significant (B = 0.028, p = 0.272).

FTP was associated with lower training procrastination partly through self-control. MAp emerged as a robust motivational boundary condition, whereas the independent moderating role of PAv was less robust after accounting for MAp. Findings suggest that training procrastination is associated with athletes' future-oriented thinking, self-regulatory capacity, and motivational meaning attached to training. Results may inform coach education and athlete-support practices that connect daily training with future goals, support self-regulation, and encourage mastery-oriented feedback. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to clarify causal and developmental processes. These cross-sectional self-report findings do not establish causal relationships or directly assess broader sustainable athlete development outcomes.