Procrastination and attention: Factor analysis of attention deficit, boredonmess, intelligence, self-esteem, and task delay frequencies

It is possible that procrastination may be related to an inability to stay focused on a task and a need for frequent sensory stimulation. In the prese nt correlational study, 142 young adults (80 women, 62 men: M age = 21.1, S D = 4.7) self-reported procrastination tendencies (avoidance, arousal, and decisional), attention deficits, boredom proneness, intelligence and self-e steem. Partial correlates (controlling for intelligence) indicated that all three forms of procrastination were related to boredom proneness, attentio n deficits, and low self-esteem. Factor analysis, however, indicated that n o procrastination type loaded with attention deficits or intelligence, and only decisional procrastination loaded with self-esteem and boredom pronene ss. These results suggest that only cognitive forms of procrastination (ind ecision) may be related to a need for sensory stimulation, and that among n ormal adults procrastination is not associated with attention deficits.