Using the temporal motivation theory to explain the relation between ADHD and procrastination

Figures & data

Table 1. Sample characteristics.

Variable	n (%)/M (SD)
Gender
Female	144 (71.3%)
Male	58 (28.7%)
Age	26.23 (7.10)
Education
High school	26 (12.9%)
Bachelor’s degree	156 (77.6%)
Master’s degree or higher	19 (9.5%)
Marital status
Married	67 (33.8%)
Not married (Single, divorced, widowed)	131 (66.2%)
Religiosity
Religious	58 (29.9%)
Secular	136 (70.1%)
Employment
Employed	116 (57.7%)
Not employed	85 (42.3%)
ADHD prior diagnosis	14 (7%)

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of the study variables.

	Mean	SD	Skewness	Kurtosis	Cronbach’s α
ASRS
Total	2.46	.64	.69	.70	.90
Inattention	2.47	.70	.83	.90	.85
Hyperactivity- impulsivity	2.45	.69	.59	.67	.83
Hyperactivity	2.53	.71	.53	.68	.74
Impulsivity	2.30	.84	.56	.01	.73
IPS
Total	2.49	.73	.47	−.24	.87
MDT
Expectancy	4.15	.58	−.80	1.13	.83
Task aversiveness	2.76	.71	.23	−.24	.80
Impulsiveness	2.59	.70	.51	−.08	.85

ASRS = the Hebrew version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1; IPS = Irrational Procrastination Scale; MDT = Motivational Diagnostic Test; Inattention score was computed as the mean of the eight ASRS inattention items (not including item 4, which overlaps with procrastination).

Table 3. Correlations between the study variables.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
(1) ASRS total	–
(2) Inattention	.905**	–
(3) Hyperactivity-impulsivity	.924**	.672**	–
(4) Hyperactivity	.899**	.673**	.956**	–
(5) Impulsivity	.775**	.531**	.868**	.685**	–
(6) IPS	.502**	.603**	.330**	.333**	.256**	–
(7) Expectancy	−.200**	−.206**	−.162**	−.130	−.182**	−.372**	–
(8) Task aversiveness	.513**	.562**	.386**	.414**	.260**	.491**	−.304**	–
(9) Impulsiveness	.651**	.637**	.558**	.579**	.406**	.583**	−.193**	.656**	–

ASRS = the Hebrew version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1(not including item 4, which overlaps with procrastination); Inattention score was computed as the mean of the eight ASRS inattention items (not including item 4); IPS = Irrational Procrastination Scale.

**correlation is significant at the .01 level (2 – tailed).

Figure 1. Indirect and direct pathways from ADHD symptoms to procrastination.

The values shown are the standardised regression coefficients of the indirect and direct effects (taking into account other mediators) of ADHD symptoms upon procrastination. ADHD=attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, measured by the Adult ADHD Self Report scale – Version 1.1; Procrastination was measured using the Irrational Procrastination Scale; Expectancy, task aversiveness, and impulsiveness were measured using the Motivation Diagnostic Test (MDT). *Significant pathways (the respective 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals did not contain zero in bootstrap analyses).

Table 4. Indirect and direct effects of ADHD symptoms upon procrastination.

Effect	Coefficients	95% CI	Model R^2
Direct effect:
ADHD ➔ Procrastination	0.194	[0.031, 0.356]
Indirect effects:
ADHD ➔Expectancy ➔ Procrastination	0.056	[0.016, 0.106]
ADHD ➔Task aversiveness ➔ Procrastination	0.053	[−0.049, 0.176]
ADHD ➔Impulsiveness ➔ Procrastination	0.276	[0.128, 0.428]
			.658

Final mediation path analysis predicting procrastination. The values shown are the unstandardised regression coefficients of the indirect and direct effects (taking into account other mediators) of ADHD symptoms upon procrastination. In bold are the significant pathways (the respective 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals did not contain zero in bootstrap analyses).

Data availability statement

The data are not publicly available to ensure participant privacy, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.