Open AccessThe effects of locus of control on procrastination among undergraduates: the coping strategy as a mediator
Author(s) -
Poh Chua Siah,
Hui Qin Ang,
Siew Man Chan,
Ee Leng Wong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of educational sciences and psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2247-8558
pISSN - 2247-6377
DOI - 10.51865/jesp.2021.1.09
Subject(s) - procrastination , locus of control , coping (psychology) , psychology , personality , nonprobability sampling , social psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , population , environmental health
Procrastination is a common issue among undergraduate students. Studies have found that locus of control and coping strategies are associated with procrastination, and the relationships between locus of control and coping strategies. However, no study has examined the relationships among these three factors. This study aims to use the personality-coping-outcome theory as a framework to examine whether the coping strategy is a mediator for the effects of locus of control on procrastination. One hundred and fifty undergraduates were recruited by using the purposive sampling method. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data. The results showed that those participants with a higher internal locus of control are less likely to procrastinate when the problem-solving coping strategy is adopted. These findings suggested that a firm belief of controlling over one life episode does not necessarily change the procrastination. Programs can be designed to improve undergraduates’ understanding of adopting effective strategies to cope with their procrastination.