Procrastination and Health

Question 1

Poor self-control

Answer 1

Procrastinators are unable to follow through with intended health behaviours

Question 2

Social temptation

Answer 2

Procrastinators are sensitive to positive social temptations
Intended and important task may be viewed as less positive relative to social temptations, increasing vulnerability to ‘give in’ to try and feel good

Question 3

Procrastination definition? (2)

Answer 3

• common self-regulatory problem involving the unnecessary and voluntary delay of important intended tasks despite the recognition that this delay may have negative consequences
• a form of self-regulation failure that involves the primacy of short term mood repair and emotion regulation over long term tasks

Question 4

Affects who?

Answer 4

15 - 20% adults

Question 5

Personality and health models

–procrastination affects health through 2 routes

Answer 5

1) direct route: stress—> immune system
-creation of unnecessary stress
2) Indirect route: health behaviours
including:
-fewer health protective behaviours
-more unhealthy behaviours
-combination of unhealthy habits increases risk for illness
(health behaviours may work with or independent of stress to predict illness)

Question 6

Procrastination is linked to:

Answer 6

• delay in making medical appointments
• practicing fewer health promoting and protecting behaviours
• higher stress
• greater number of health problems

Question 7

Procrastination and the big 5
What are the 5?
What are the 2 that promote or prevent harmful behaviours?

Answer 7

1) openess
2) Conscientiousness = C
3) Extraversion
4) Agreeableness
5) Neuroticism (emotional instability) = N

C= related to health-promoting behaviours
N= related to harmful health behaviours

Question 8

Why is procrastination associated with fewer health promoting behaviours?

Answer 8

Intention to perform but failure to act?
Avoidance of intention formation = lack of behaviour
Factors associated with intention formation;
1 - self-efficacy
2 - consideration of future consequences (CFC)

Question 9

Procrastination (-) related to :

Answer 9

• CFC
• health self-efficacy
• health behaviour intentions

weaker intentions to perform health promoting behaviours explained by low self-efficacy (consistent with TPB)
awareness of consequences of not performing behaviour, but intentions still low (low self-efficacy may explain why)

Question 10

Self-compassion and making healthy changes

3things?

Answer 10

self kindness
common humanity
mindfulness