The relationship between academic procrastination and anxiety symptoms among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring the moderated mediation effects of resilience and social support

Abstract

Background: Medical students have experienced increased anxiety symptoms during the pandemic of COVID-19. However, there is a paucity of investigation on the effect of academic procrastination, and personal resources (such as social support and resilience) on anxiety symptoms among this population. Objective: The main objective of this research was to evaluate the link between academic procrastination and anxiety symptoms among medical students during the pandemic of COVID-19 and clarify how resilience and social support mediate or moderate the relations between academic procrastination and anxiety symptoms. Methods: With a cross-sectional stratified sampling, 595 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire to assess anxiety symptoms and associated factors. The study used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7 cutoff ≥ 10), the Academic Procrastination Scale (PASS), Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC),and Perception Social Support Scale for measurements. Results: The results of the study showed that 26.4% (157/595) of medical students exhibited symptoms of anxiety. Regression analysis revealed an inverse relationship between resilience, social support, and anxiety symptoms (β = -0.058, P < 0.05). As revealed by the analysis results, the study found a total effect of 0.338, a direct effect of 0.270, and resilience exhibited a mediating effect of 0.068. The direct effect (0.270) accounted for 79.59% of the total effect (0.338), while the mediating effect (0.068) contributed to 20.12% of the total effect (0.338). This further supports the role of psychological resilience in mediating the link between academic procrastination and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The study implies that promoting resilience may be an effective intervention to lessen the detrimental consequences of academic procrastination on anxiety symptoms, and social support might provide a defense against the negative influence of academic procrastination on anxiety symptoms.