1 in 20 adults in the United States suffers from a serious mental illness each year.
According to the WHO, around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents suffer from a mental disorder, and suicide is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 15 and 29.
A new study from JAMA Network Open has revealed that procrastination can lead to worsening health, including feelings of anxiety, unhealthy sleep schedules, and even pain.
What did the investigation find?
The study consisted of 3,524 university students from Sweden and found that procrastination can lead to a number of health problems, including mental and physical complications.
“I was shocked when I saw it,” says Fred Johansson, a clinical psychologist at Sophiahemmet University in Stockholm. For nine months, the researchers followed the students to see if those who procrastinated had health problems.
In general, students who procrastinated were more vulnerable to stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep.
“People who score higher on procrastination to begin with… are at greater risk of developing physical and psychological problems later on,” continues Alexander Rozental, co-author of the study. “There is a relationship between procrastination at a given moment and having these negative results later.”
Because the study was observational, the researchers cannot scientifically prove that procrastination was the only reason for their health problems. However, previous studies have also revealed that procrastination can cause health problems.
Although procrastination isn’t considered a serious problem, the study turned that idea on its head, saying that, over time, it could lead to more extensive research. Johansson said it’s hard to fully figure out whether procrastination can lead to health complications, or whether those with health problems procrastinate.
How was the study carried out?
More than 3,500 participants were asked to rate their level of procrastination using a Swedish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale.
Students had to rate themselves on a scale of one to five, with one being “very rarely or not for me” and five being “very often or always for me”. It consisted of five items, with a total of 25 points.
Sixteen self-reported health outcomes were also assessed over the duration, including mental health complications, pain, lifestyle routine, psychosocial factors, and general health.
The study concluded that procrastination does indeed lead to poorer health, including pain, unhealthy lifestyle routines, and more. Although it can be tempting to procrastinate, especially in college, it’s important to find your routine and try to stick with it.
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