Procrastination Among Adults: The Role of Self-doubt, Fear of the Negative Evaluation, and Irrational/Rational Beliefs

Abstract

Procrastination is often associated with negative outcomes such as poor performance and well-being. Theoretical models suggest that individuals with an uncertain self-concept may be more prone to procrastination due to their fear of failing to meet the required standard. To investigate this issue from a cognitive perspective, a cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the relationships among self-doubt, fear of negative evaluation, procrastination, and rational/irrational beliefs. The study involved 344 highly educated adults (65.4% female, M= 37.51 years, SD = 8.53, range 21-63). Participants completed a questionnaire booklet that included several measures, including the Self-doubt Scale, the Procrastination Scale, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Irrational/Rational Beliefs Scale. The findings from the mediation analysis indicate that the influence of self-doubt on procrastination is partially mediated by fear of negative evaluation. Furthermore, the indirect effect of self-doubt on procrastination through the mediation of fear of negative evaluation is contingent upon the level of irrational beliefs. These results suggest that irrational beliefs may exacerbate the detrimental impact of self-doubt on procrastination by amplifying the role of fear of negative evaluation. Furthermore, the strength of the direct effect of self-doubt on procrastination depends on the level of rational belief, indicating that rational belief may serve as a protective variable in the relationship between self-doubt and procrastination. The present findings underline interventions to strengthen individuals' rational beliefs and modify their irrational beliefs, which can play a fundamental role in overcoming procrastination in the adult population.