Patterns of Academic Procrastination

The Academic Procrastination Questionnaire, measuring procrastination and six possible patterns underlying it, was completed by 248 university students plus 17 counseling clients who sought help for procrastination. Thirty-two percent of the general sample were severe procrastinators, with the most common patterns being Socially-focused and Optimistic, or being Ambivalent and Independent-minded. The most common patterns for clients involved Evaluation Anxiety or being Discouraged/Depressed, or Dependent. However, all six patterns occurred for some students in each sample. The results are discussed as supporting individualized assessment and solutions for academic procrastination.