3335 - PROCRASTINATION IN LECTURERS AND SCIENTISTS - FINDINGS ON POTENTIAL ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES AT A SWISS UNIVERSITY

Session: 3294 - QUALITY OF WORKING LIFE AND STRESS IN ACADEMIA: A COMPARISON OF TOOLS AND EXPERIENCES
AUTHORS:
Elfering Achim (University of Bern ~ Bern ~ Switzerland)
Abstract text:
Background. The current questionnaire study explores antecendents and consequences of procrastination in academic employees of a university faculty in Switzerland. A model of procrastination as mediator is tested with qualitative overload as a predictor of procrastination and procrastination as a predictor of emotional exhaustion.


Method. All employees of the Faculty of Human Sciences (academic, technical, administrative, and service: N=507) were invited to participate in the survey via the institutional email distribution list. After data cleaning, the sample consisted of 36% (N=182) of the target group. Qualitative overload, procrastination, and emotional exhaustion were assessed by validated questionnaires. The mediation model was tested by use of the process model of Hayes.


Results. Procrastination was higher in PhD students compared to post-docs, lecturers, and professors. Procrastination was lower in tenured staff and was higher in scientists with current mental health problems or a recent history of mental health problems. Procrastination was higher in those with sleep problems and was related to less fruit consumption. There was no sex difference in procrastination. Qualitative work overload, procrastination, and emotional exhaustion were positively related. showed a significant indirect path (qualitative work overload -> procrastination -> emotional exhaustion, B = 0.047 SE = 0.015 CI 95% = 0.020 - 0.080). The significant indirect path remained significant when current of recent mental health problems were controlled in the mediation model (B = 0.036 SE = 0.014 CI 95% = 0.012 - 0.067).


Conclusion. Scientific work is complex and many scientists report qualitative work overload. Procrastination as a nonadaptive work style may be a consequence that increases the risk of emotional exhaustion as core of professional burnout. The current study points to workplace ergonomics, health behaviors, and health promotion recommendations, that are related to procrastination and might help to reduce procrastination in higher education staff.