Publication
Academic satisfaction and academic procrastination among Brazilian university students: The mediating role of procrastination motives
| Summary: | Background: Academic procrastination is a pattern of non-strategic task postponement associated with lower self-regulation and poorer adjustment to higher education. Objective: To examine the association between academic satisfaction and academic procrastination, as well as the mediating role of procrastination motives, in undergraduate and graduate students. Method: A total of 1,137 Brazilian students participated (81% undergraduate; 19% graduate) in an online survey comprising the Brief Inventory of Academic Procrastination, the Academic Procrastination Motives Scale, and the Academic Life Satisfaction Scale. Associations were examined using regression and mediation models. Results: Academic satisfaction was significantly associated with academic procrastination, accounting for approximately 14% of its variance among undergraduate students and 19% among graduate students. Procrastination motives—particularly anxiety, laziness, perceived inability, fatigue, and perfectionism—partially mediated this association, although a substantial proportion of the association remained direct. Conclusions: The findings suggest that academic satisfaction and procrastination motives are relevant dimensions for understanding procrastination in higher education. Institutional strategies aimed at improving the academic experience and fostering task self-regulation may contribute to reducing procrastinatory tendencies among undergraduate and graduate students. |
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| Main Authors: | Mattos Garcia da Rosa, Calebe |
| Other Authors: | Centurion Cabral , João Carlos; Wanglon Veleda, Gessyka; Neiva-Silva , Lucas |
| Subject: | Academic procrastination Academic satisfaction Procrastination motives University students Cross-sectional studies Estudantes universitários Motivações para procrastinar Procrastinação acadêmica Satisfação acadêmica Estudos transversais |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | unknown |
| Associated institution: | Instituto Superior Miguel Torga |
| Language: | Portuguese |
| Origin: | Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social |
| Summary: | Background: Academic procrastination is a pattern of non-strategic task postponement associated with lower self-regulation and poorer adjustment to higher education. Objective: To examine the association between academic satisfaction and academic procrastination, as well as the mediating role of procrastination motives, in undergraduate and graduate students. Method: A total of 1,137 Brazilian students participated (81% undergraduate; 19% graduate) in an online survey comprising the Brief Inventory of Academic Procrastination, the Academic Procrastination Motives Scale, and the Academic Life Satisfaction Scale. Associations were examined using regression and mediation models. Results: Academic satisfaction was significantly associated with academic procrastination, accounting for approximately 14% of its variance among undergraduate students and 19% among graduate students. Procrastination motives—particularly anxiety, laziness, perceived inability, fatigue, and perfectionism—partially mediated this association, although a substantial proportion of the association remained direct. Conclusions: The findings suggest that academic satisfaction and procrastination motives are relevant dimensions for understanding procrastination in higher education. Institutional strategies aimed at improving the academic experience and fostering task self-regulation may contribute to reducing procrastinatory tendencies among undergraduate and graduate students. |
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