Relationship between chronotype, personality traits and academic procrastination

Abstract

Academic procrastination is commonly observed in post-secondary students while this practice was found associating with numerous adverse academic and health consequences. Procrastination is oversimplified as laziness. Indeed, the underlying mechanism is psychologically complex. In recent years, an increasing number of studies examine psychobiological variables in the explanation of the etiology of academic procrastination. Previous research suggests one’s sleep-wake preference (i.e. chronotype) significantly influences academic procrastinatory behaviour while Big Five personality traits are found associated with both of them. However, no existing studies explore the relationship between these three variables. The aim of the present study is to examine the relationship between chronotype, Big Five personality traits and academic procrastination. Specifically, all Big Five personality traits were the mediator variables. Additionally, the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between chronotype and academic procrastination was examined. The final sample consisted of 312 participants aged 18-39 years. The data were collected through online self-report questionnaires. Chronotype, academic procrastination, gender, and Big Five personality traits including extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism were gauged after statically controlling for social desirability. Results showed that chronotype was a significant predictor of academic procrastination with controlling socially desirability. Mediation analysis showed that neuroticism and conscientiousness partially mediated the relationship between chronotype and academic procrastination. Moderation analysis reported that the moderation effect of gender on the relationship between chronotype and academic procrastination was not significant.