Linking dark triad traits to procrastination: A sequential mediation model involving time perspectives and passion

This study investigates the cross-sectional associations between dark personality traits, time perspectives, passion, and procrastination. Drawing on Zimbardo's time perspective theory and Vallerand's dualistic model of passion, we examined how Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy relate to procrastination by means of temporal orientation and types of passion. A sample of 824 Spanish adults (ages 18-34), recruited via non-probabilistic quota sampling, completed validated measures of the target constructs. Structural equation modeling using a robust estimator revealed that subclinical psychopathy exhibits a significant indirect association with procrastination via a fatalistic present time perspective and obsessive passion. In contrast, narcissism and Machiavellianism showed no significant indirect associations. Harmonious passion was negatively associated with procrastination, while obsessive passion showed a positive link. Additionally, present hedonistic and future perspectives were linked to harmonious and obsessive passion, respectively. These findings highlight the role of temporal orientations and the two types of passion in understanding procrastination within specific personality profiles. The results suggest that these model-consistent conditional pathways may inform future intervention research targeting time perspective adjustments and passion regulation to alleviate procrastination tendencies.