Exploring the interplay between anxiety and academic procrastination: An institution-based cross-sectional study from Pakistan.

BACKGROUND

Procrastination, the unnecessary delay of tasks, is common among college students, especially in academic settings. Academic procrastination often leads to last-minute rushes and increased anxiety. The relationship between procrastination and anxiety is intricate, complicating the determination of which triggers the other.

AIM

To examine how anxiety and procrastination interact among medical students, particularly focusing on their reciprocal influence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study included 311 MBBS students, recruited through simple convenient sampling. Procrastination was assessed with the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) and anxiety with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27, with Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. Statistical significance was set at < 0.05.

RESULTS

Pearson correlation showed a significant, weak positive correlation between anxiety and procrastination (r = 0.346, < .001). Subcategories of the IPS correlated with anxiety from negligible to high. Chi-square analysis found a significant association of anxiety with procrastination ( < 0.001) and gender ( = 0.038), but no significant link of anxiety or procrastination with the year of study was observed. Linear regression revealed that anxiety significantly predicted procrastination (B = 0.354, < 0.05) and vice versa (B = 0.339, < 0.05), explaining 12% of the variance.

CONCLUSION

The study found a weak yet significant positive correlation between anxiety and procrastination, indicating that the relationship might be bidirectional. However, the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data highlight the need for further longitudinal research to better understand these dynamics.