School of Education, Beijing Open University, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
School of Foreign Languages, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, People's Republic of China.
Trials. 2023 Feb 6;24(1):82. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07112-7.
Procrastination or "postponing until later" is a common phenomenon defined as the intentional delay in partaking in and finishing important activities despite negative outcomes potentially outweighing the positive. Procrastination adversely affects mental health, academic performance, and career achievement. Although studies on procrastination intervention methods and effectiveness exist, utility and cost-effectiveness are limited by various factors, including practitioner availability and skills, barriers to participant participation, and the time investment required by participants. Thus, internet-based interventions could increase the availability of evidence-based treatments for adult procrastination.
This study explored the efficacy of an online-based self-help intervention in the context of voluntary procrastination among undergraduate psychology students. The study design is a randomized controlled trial. Participants who self-reported procrastination-related problems and behaviours were included in the trial consisting of two groups; specifically, one group undergoing a self-directed internet-based intervention for coping with procrastination (N=160) and (2) another group with delayed access to the intervention programmes (waitlist control group; N=160). Follow-up assessments were scheduled 6 and 12 weeks after baseline, and the control group received the intervention after 12 weeks. Procrastination, measured by the Irrational Procrastination Scale and the Simple Procrastination Scale, was examined as the primary outcome. Meanwhile, secondary outcomes included susceptibility, stress, depression, anxiety, well-being, self-efficacy, time management strategies, self-control, cognition, and emotion regulation. Other measures comprised acceptability (e.g., intervention satisfaction, potential side effects, and expectations) and learning behaviour analysis to reflect adherence.
This randomized controlled trial will provide data on the effectiveness of online interventions for adult procrastination. If deemed effective, this low-cost, high-coverage internet-based intervention could aid more people who seek to address their procrastination.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=171246 .
拖延或“推迟到以后”是一种常见的现象，定义为故意延迟参与和完成重要活动，尽管潜在的负面后果可能超过积极后果。拖延会对心理健康、学业成绩和职业成就产生不利影响。尽管有关于拖延干预方法和效果的研究，但由于各种因素的限制，其实用性和成本效益有限，包括从业者的可用性和技能、参与者参与的障碍，以及参与者所需的时间投入。因此，基于互联网的干预措施可以增加针对成人拖延的基于证据的治疗方法的可及性。
本研究探讨了一种在线自我帮助干预在自愿拖延的本科生心理学学生背景下的疗效。研究设计是一项随机对照试验。自我报告有拖延相关问题和行为的参与者被纳入试验，分为两组；具体来说，一组接受针对拖延的自我指导的在线干预（N=160），另一组则延迟获得干预方案（等待对照组；N=160）。随访评估分别在基线后 6 周和 12 周进行，对照组在 12 周后接受干预。采用非理性拖延量表和简单拖延量表测量拖延作为主要结果。同时，次要结果包括易感性、压力、抑郁、焦虑、幸福感、自我效能感、时间管理策略、自我控制、认知和情绪调节。其他措施包括可接受性（如干预满意度、潜在副作用和期望）和学习行为分析，以反映依从性。
这项随机对照试验将提供关于成人拖延在线干预效果的数据。如果被认为有效，这种低成本、高覆盖率的基于互联网的干预措施可以帮助更多希望解决拖延问题的人。
中国临床试验注册中心。https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=171246。
