Achievement motivation and positive mental health among college students: mediating role of procrastination

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship between achievement motivation, procrastination and positive mental health of college students. Methods A total of 348 students completed a survey that included Achievement Motivation Scale (AMS), General Procrastination Scale (GPS) and Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). Results (1) The average scores of achievement motivation, procrastination and positive mental health in college students were 3.61±12.05, 56.48±10.62 and 3.46±0.82 respectively.The proportion of flourishing student was accounted for 53.16%, 44.83% for the moderately mentally healthy and 2.01% for the languishing.(2) College students' achievement motivation was positively correlated with positive mental health (r=0.399, P<0.01), achievement motivation was negatively correlated with procrastination (r=-0.388, P<0.01) and procrastination was negatively correlated with positive mental health (r=-0.267, P<0.01). (3) Procrastination had a partial mediating effect between achievement motivation and positive mental health, and the proportion of mediating effect in total effect was 12.75%.In three dimensions of positive mental health, procrastination also had partial mediating effect between achievement motivation and psychological well-being and emotional well-being respectively, the proportion of mediating effect in total effect were 15.71% and 20.63% respectively.But the mediating effect between achievement motivation and social well-being was not significant. Conclusion College students with higher achievement motivation have higher positive mental health, but the procrastination has indirect negative effect between the two variables, which leads to the negative effect of emotional and psychological well-being in the positive mental health condition. Key words: College students; Achievement motivation; Positive mental health; Procrastination