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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Procrastination, Distress and Life Satisfaction across the Age Range – A German Representative Community Study
Oliver QuiringStefan AufenangerBirgit StarkGabriele SchmutzerEva M. KleinElmar BrählerKai W. MüllerLeonard ReineckeKlaus WölflingManfred E. BeutelMichael Dreiersubject
Male050103 clinical psychologyEmotionslcsh:MedicineSocial Sciences050109 social psychologyPersonal SatisfactionAnxietyPathology and Laboratory MedicineSociologyResidence CharacteristicsGermanyMedicine and Health SciencesMedicinePsychologylcsh:ScienceFatiguemedia_commonAged 80 and overeducation.field_of_studyMultidisciplinarySchoolsDepression05 social sciencesProcrastinationAge FactorsMiddle AgedAnxiety DisordersDistressCohort effectCohortIncomeAnxietyFemalemedicine.symptomClinical psychologyResearch ArticleAdultmedicine.medical_specialtyAdolescentmedia_common.quotation_subjectPopulationSelf-conceptPsychological StressNeuropsychiatric DisordersNeurosesEducationYoung AdultSigns and SymptomsSex FactorsMental Health and PsychiatryHumans0501 psychology and cognitive scienceseducationPsychiatryAgedMotivationbusiness.industryMood Disorderslcsh:RLife satisfactionBiology and Life SciencesSelf ConceptAge GroupsUnemploymentPeople and Placeslcsh:QPopulation GroupingsbusinessStress Psychologicaldescription
Addressing the lack of population-based data the purpose of this representative study was to assess procrastination and its associations with distress and life satisfaction across the life span. A representative German community sample (1,350 women; 1,177 men) between the ages of 14 and 95 years was examined by the short form of the General Procrastination Scale (GPS-K; 1) and standardized scales of perceived stress, depression, anxiety, fatigue and life satisfaction. As hypothesized, procrastination was highest in the youngest cohort (14-29 years). Only in the youngest and most procrastinating cohort (aged 14 to 29 years), men procrastinated more than women. As we had further hypothesized, procrastination was consistently associated with higher stress, more depression, anxiety, fatigue and reduced satisfaction across life domains, especially regarding work and income. Associations were also found with lack of a partnership and unemployment. Findings are discussed with regard to potential developmental and cohort effects. While procrastination appears to be a pervasive indicator for maladjustment, longitudinal analyses in high-risk samples (e.g. late adolescence, unemployment) are needed to identify means and mechanisms of procrastinating.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-12 | PLoS ONE |