The Influence of Personality Types on Academic Procrastination Among Undergraduate Students

ABSTRACT

Procrastination on academic tasks is a common problem affecting learning and achievement of university students globally. In Western and developed countries, personality types have been implicated in academic procrastination, but such evidence has not been adduced within the Ghanaian context. This study was therefore conducted to explore the possible role of personality types on academic procrastination among undergraduate students. Two hundred (200) students (Mean age = 20.78 years; SD = 2.27) conveniently sampled completed the Academic Procrastination Scale and the Big Five Personality Inventory. Correlational analysis showed that academic procrastination was negatively associated with openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness but positively related to neuroticism. Further standard multiple regression analysis showed only two dimensions of the personality traits: Neuroticism and openness made significant prediction of academic procrastination. Neuroticism made the strongest unique predictor of academic procrastination (β = 0.23; t = 2.74; p < .01) followed by openness (β = – 0.20; t = −2.18; p < .05). The current study provides important information needed for the development of intervention programs that will help reduce academic procrastination among students, with specific emphasis on implicated personality traits.

KEYWORDS:

• Academic procrastination
• personality traits
• University students
• Ghana

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Godwin Ocansey

Godwin Ocansey received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Ghana. He is interested in clinical psychology-related research areas.

Christian Addo

Christian Addo is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Webster University, Accra, Ghana. He teaches undergraduate courses with a research interest in cognitive neuroscience and mental health.

Henry K. Onyeaka

Henry K. Onyeaka is a physician and a research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, USA. His research interests are in the areas of psychiatry, public mental health, and psychological well-being.

Johnny Andoh-Arthur

Johnny Andoh-Arthur, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana. His qualitative project explores the meaning(s) of suicide in Ghana. The study examines the interplay of psychological characteristics of suicide deceased persons, their life events, and social contexts in the suicidal process. Prior to his Ph.D., he worked as an assistant lecturer in the Psychology Department of the University of Ghana. He has published on mental health and help-seeking intentions among youth and stigma and attitudes toward suicidal behavior in Ghana. He is also a research fellow at the Centre for Suicide and Violence Research (CSVR) in Ghana.

Kwaku Oppong Asante

Kwaku Oppong Asante, Ph.D., is an experienced researcher and a lecturer in psychology at the University of Ghana. He is also an honorary lecturer in the discipline of psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a research fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Free State, both in South Africa. His research interests focus on adolescent health and well-being, social and psychological aspects of HIV/AIDS, and health promotion. He also has interests in other areas of health psychology and public health. He is an associate editor for the International Journal of Addiction and Mental Health and International Journal of Public Health and an academic editor for PLoS One. He is also a coeditor for the Ghana Social Science Journal.