Ruminating about procrastination

Brett W Guidry, Purdue University

Abstract

This study sought to integrate research on procrastination, rumination, and emotions into a single experiential flow under the umbrella of "the experience of procrastination." It examines the sensation of procrastination, negative emotions, and rumination over time. Specifically, it looks at the possible relationship between a task, the negative emotions it engenders (including guilt and shame specifically), ruminative thoughts about the task, and subsequent procrastination on the task. College students were surveyed multiple times during the course of a single writing assignment to examine changes in these variables. Some expected correlations were detected, including a relationship between negative emotions and rumination and correlations between rumination and procrastination. However, hypotheses regarding rumination predicting procrastination were not supported. Individuals who completed the assignment early (non-procrastinators) were compared to the remaining participants on several variables. The findings and their implications are discussed in detail.

Degree

M.S.

Advisors

Jagacinski, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Developmental psychology|Psychology

COinS