Procrastination Jeopardizes Mental State of Students, Researchers Say
Sputnik news agency and radio
Scientists from the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE) have found that one of the reasons for the interpersonal tensions between teachers and students that threaten psychological security in higher education institutions is procrastination (a tendency of delaying or postponing important tasks by a certain deadline).
Researchers believe that developing programmes that increase motivation to study will help avoid unwanted consequences. The results of the study were published in the international, peer-reviewed journal Behavioral Sciences.
The MSUPE experts conducted a study using a survey of university students, in the course of which they considered prostration as a cause of psychological safety deterioration of the educational environment. The authors of the scientific work noted that if you constantly put things off, there will be a feeling of inner discomfort and negative emotional feelings associated with expecting unpleasant consequences.
A study using the scale of procrastination developed by K. Ley found that the moderate procrastination level was typical for 46.7% of students. They occasionally put off important tasks, but this does not diminish the quality of their performance in different activities. High levels of procrastination are common to 53.3% of students. They systematically fail to achieve the set objectives or perform them poorly, which leads to negative consequences.
Scientists have discovered that students with a high level of procrastination have the strongest feelings of duty and shame towards themselves and other important people in their lives. Students who often put off important things when interacting with classmates and teachers can show hostility, according to the authors of the study.
“It should be noted that students with a moderate level of procrastination are characterised by the motives of professional, educational and cognitive activities that determine their desire to acquire professional knowledge, skills and abilities in the profession they are learning”, an associate professor at the Department of Scientific Basis of Extreme Psychology at the Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Anna Litvinova said.
She also noted that students with a moderate procrastination level were more likely to show goodwill and acceptance in interpersonal relationships. This provides them with psychological safety in the educational environment of the university and encourages them to self-development. While students with a high level of procrastination may experience difficulties in interpersonal relations.
According to the MSUPE scientists, it is necessary to develop and implement programmes of the addressed psychological aid aimed at reducing the level of procrastination that allows students to stop postponing important things in order to provide psychological security at university.
Experts believe that this would help avoid emotional discomfort, negative subjective experiences of students and general dissatisfaction with their activities. The result will be increased motivation for self-development, resources for learning and potential in professional activity.
In the future, the researchers plan to learn how prostration affects psychological security in different types of educational institutions. Comparisons will be conducted between humanitarian, technical and military universities, as well as between colleges and universities.
