Gender Difference Study on the Effects of Self-efficacy and Personality on Procrastination

Procrastination is the term used to describe the behavior of putting a task at hand, to be completed later due to lack of motivation, any other activity being more desirable, or because one may consider they are not capable of doing the task at hand. Usually, it is stated that people with lower self-efficacy engage in higher levels of procrastination; self-efficacy being the belief of a person in themselves to do anything. Procrastination has also been linked to personality, which is the characteristic way of a person’s behavior, emotions and, thinking. The current research aims to study the relationship between procrastination, self-efficacy and, personality among young adults. A sample of 64 (32 females and, 32 males) young adults in the age group of 18-26 were taken. Standardized scales were used to measure procrastination, self-efficacy and, personality. The results showed a negative significant correlation between self-efficacy and, procrastination; a negative significant correlation between procrastination and, conscientiousness (personality trait of being goal-directed). The gender difference in procrastination came out to be insignificant. Males were found to be higher on the personality trait for emotional stability. The most common thing that people tend to do while putting off their work was found out to be spending time on social media followed by spending time on OTT platforms, followed by sleeping. When procrastination starts affecting life activities it needs to be checked upon.