As hypothesized and consistent with previous studies, procrastination was highest in the youngest cohort (14–29 years). We have not found a consistent sex effect, however, only in the youngest (and most strongly procrastinating group) from 14–29 years, men procrastinated more than women.

Procrastinating was higher among singles, in unemployed (vs employed and on pension), and students

ocrastination has been most thoroughly studied in student populations, where it has been associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression and poor academic performance

Thus, procrastination is associated with a number of adverse states and problems, including increased stress, lower task performance, reduced well-being, regret and suffering, and risk of mental and physical illness (

hus, on a given day, a procrastinating person may have selected training time later in the day although an earlier time slot was available (direct effect of a “later” rule).

Such implemental delay may contribute to negative consequences over time. For example, delaying the onset of planned behavior decreases the time-window for completion, which may negatively affect performance and increase stress (Tice and Baumeister, 1997).

Procrastinators earned lower grades than other students and reported higher cumulative amounts of stress and illness. True procrastinators didn’t just finish their work later — the quality of it suffered, as did their own well-being.

n the past 20 years, the peculiar behavior of procrastination has received a burst of empirical interest. With apologies to Hesiod, psychological researchers now recognize that there’s far more to it than simply putting something off until tomorrow. True procrastination is a complicated failure of self-regulation: experts define it as the voluntary delay of some important task that we intend to do, despite knowing that we’ll suffer as a result. A poor concept of time may exacerbate the problem, but an inability to manage emotions seems to be its very foundation .

Chronic procrastinators have perpetual problems finishing tasks, while situational ones delay based on the task itself. A perfect storm of procrastination occurs when an unpleasant task meets a person who’s high in impulsivity and low in self-discipline.

Sometimes putting something off until a later point can give us time to think and prepare for the task. It may also help increase the motivation to start working by having an increased pressure to create the impetus to move and work.

The most negative part of procrastination is probably the stress that it often leads to. When individuals put things off, especially until the last minute, this leads to a stress response in the body. They may start feeling nervous or anxious that the task will not get completed on time – or at all. This worry can cause headaches, stomach pains, and tension in the body.

Stress, especially when in large amounts, can cause the body to tense up and can cause problems with cognition. Having one’s thinking and movements (mental and physical aspects) impacted can make performing any task and accomplishing any goal more difficult.