Return to the origin: What creates a procrastination identity?

Abstract

Background: Procrastination affects over 20% of adult men and women, with current international data indicating a global preference to systematically delay the start or completion of intended tasks. Procrastination is a common, sub-optimal decision-making strategy that emphasises short-term benefits at the expense of later performance. Some individuals develop a pattern of procrastination which proves difficult to break; worse, they may begin to identify as a procrastinator, setting themselves up for failure. Participants and Procedure: The current investigation examined what develops a procrastinator identity. Previous research indicated that chronic procrastination is a learned tendency beginning in one's early development from parental control approaches. We extended that line of research using a cross-cultural sample (n = 2124), self-reported procrastination (behavioural or decisional), and retrospective regret scores in 12 domains. We used logistic regression to predict the likelihood of explicitly identifying as a procrastinator. Results: Across three randomised partitions, results indicated that indecision and regrets about education, career, and finances most increased the likelihood of identifying as a procrastinator. Conclusions: These findings support that regrets largely influenced by earning-potential best predict procrastination identity. The current results are consistent with other studies assessing the causes and consequences of chronic procrastination regardless of country or ethnic background. Future research is needed.