Is procrastination a vulnerability factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease? Testing an extension of the procrastination–health model

Abstract

Personality is an important epidemiological factor for understanding health outcomes.This study investigated the associations of trait procrastination with hypertension and cardiovascular disease (HT/CVD) and maladaptive coping by testing an extension of the procrastination-health model among individuals with and without HT/CVD. Individuals with self-reported HT/CVD (N = 182) and healthy controls (N = 564), from a community sample, completed an online survey including measures of personality, coping, and health outcomes.Logistic regression analysis controlling for demographic and higher order personality factors found that older age, lower education level and higher procrastination scores were associated with HT/CVD. Moderated mediation analyses with bootstrapping revealed that procrastination was more strongly associated with maladaptive coping behaviours in participants with HT/CVD than the healthy controls, and the indirect effects on stress through maladaptive coping were larger for the HT/CVD sample. Results suggest procrastination is a vulnerability factor for poor adjustment to and management of HT/CVD.

A Linear Empirical Model of Self-Regulation on Flourishing, Health, Procrastination, and Achievement, Among University Students

“…It is also related to disease development, having as a mediator, high stress levels, and greater treatment delays (Sirois and Tosti, 2012). As an example, in a study with persons suffering from hypertension and cardiovascular disease, it was found that procrastination is more closely related to maladaptive general behaviors of the patients than with the missed mandatory health checks, being a factor of primary vulnerability in the disease management (Sirois, 2015). Likewise, there is evidence that points out the relationship between chronic procrastination and stress, which could have consequences such as mental distress (coping inability) and physical distress (Ferrari and Díaz-Morales, 2014).…”

Genetic and Environmental Associations Between Procrastination and Internalizing/Externalizing Psychopathology

“…Recently, procrastination has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including poor sleep quality (Hairston & Shpitalni, 2016; Sirois, van Eerde, & Argiopoulou, 2015), mood dysregulation (Sirois & Kitner, 2015; Sirois & Pychyl, 2013), and symptoms of depression and anxiety (Beutel et al, 2016). Moreover, there are well-studied links between procrastination and personality variables such as impulsivity and neuroticism (Ferrari, 1993; Schouwenburg & Lay 1995; Steel, 2007; Van Eerde, 2000) that have also been identified as substantial predictors of psychopathology (Hink et al, 2013; Johnson, Caver, & Joormann, 2013).…”

Barriers to postpartum screening for type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study of women with previous gestational diabetes

“…Procrastination is at the center of several societal problems, from the environment to our health [26]. Procrastination is shown as a vulnerability factor for poor adjustment to and management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease [30]. In the procrastination health model, procrastination is suggested to result in less frequent practice of health-promoting behaviors [30, 31].…”

“…Procrastination is shown as a vulnerability factor for poor adjustment to and management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease [30]. In the procrastination health model, procrastination is suggested to result in less frequent practice of health-promoting behaviors [30, 31]. Azami-Aghdash et al (2015) reported that procrastination was as a key obstacle to screening of breast cancer [32].…”