Procrastination, stress, and self-rated health: A multi-sample meta-analysis

Despite a growing evidence base indicating that trait procrastination increases risk for specific outcomes reflecting poor health, there is less evidence examining the implications of procrastination for overall health status, or investigating the contributing factors involved. Guided by the cognitive process model of self-rated health (SRH), and the procrastination-health model, the current study extended previous research and theory by quantifying the link between trait procrastination and SRH across multiple samples and testing the contributions of stress. Additionally, we explored the link between chronic procrastination and the SRH-future SRH discrepancy.

Thirty-six cross-sectional samples (N = 8603) completed measures of trait procrastination, current and future SRH. A subset completed measures of perceived stress. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on the raw and semi-partial correlations of procrastination with SRH and FSRH, controlling for perceived stress. Moderator analyses were conducted where warranted. Procrastination scores were examined in relation to the discrepancy between current and future SRH.

Trait procrastination was significantly associated with poor SRH (r_avg = .21; 95% CIs [.19, .23]), and to a lesser extent, poor future SRH (r_avg = .13; 95% CIs [.09, .18]). The semi-partial effects were reduced but significant for SRH, and non-significant for future SRH. Procrastination was modestly associated with the discrepancy between current and future SRH, reflecting an expectation that health would improve slightly over the next 10 years.

The current findings indicate that chronic procrastination is associated with poor overall health status that can be explained in part by higher levels of stress.