The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure

Steel (2007) · Psychological Bulletin · Read the paper

Steel reviewed conceptual, theoretical and empirical research on procrastination and meta-analysed 691 correlations. Neuroticism, rebelliousness and sensation seeking had only weak links to procrastination. Stronger and more consistent predictors were task aversiveness, task delay, low self-efficacy, impulsiveness and several facets of conscientiousness, namely self-control, distractibility, organisation and achievement motivation. The findings were reported as consistent with temporal motivation theory, which combines expectancy theory and hyperbolic discounting.

Steel reviewed conceptual, theoretical and empirical research on procrastination and meta-analysed 691 correlations. Neuroticism, rebelliousness and sensation seeking had only weak links to procrastination. Stronger and more consistent predictors were task aversiveness, task delay, low self-efficacy, impulsiveness and several facets of conscientiousness, namely self-control, distractibility, organisation and achievement motivation. The findings were reported as consistent with temporal motivation theory, which combines expectancy theory and hyperbolic discounting.

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Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65-94. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65 https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65