Procrastination is the primary issue that can negatively impact university students' academic performance, according to a study involving more than 65,000 young people. The research indicated that students ranked procrastination above other concerns such as ADHD, anxiety, or financial difficulties.
The study found that nearly half of the surveyed students identified procrastination as harming their ability to complete academic work. This figure was more than double the number who cited depression. A similar proportion of students also stated that procrastination caused them significant distress, exceeding other problems like family pressures or bullying.
Itamar Shatz, the study's author and an affiliated lecturer at the University of Cambridge, expressed surprise at the strong impact procrastination had on US students, even though he anticipated they would experience harm from it. Shatz noted that while most people procrastinate, for some, it can be a major obstacle affecting academic and workplace success, relationships, and health.
Published in the journal Plos One, the study also suggests that procrastination could be part of a "vicious cycle" that might lead to or intensify other problems, such as stress. An example provided is a student procrastinating on a task, leading to stress, which then interferes with sleep, causing further procrastination.
Fuschia Sirois, a psychology professor at Durham University not involved in the study, highlighted that the negative impact of procrastination on students' lives has been a research topic for almost 30 years. She added that people often procrastinate to avoid difficult emotions, providing short-term mood repair, but eventually face guilt, shame, and stress.
Shatz, who has published a guide on overcoming procrastination, stated that it should not be equated with laziness. He explained that procrastinators can be highly motivated but are often sidetracked by distractions like perfectionism or burnout. Shatz believes universities should recognise procrastination as a significant obstacle for students, requiring positive interventions rather than just time management solutions.