Procrastination, Study Habits and Optimistic Attitude among College Students

Abstract

Procrastination has been an impediment to academic success on college students because it decreases the quality and quantity of learning while increasing the severity of success and negative outcomes in student’s lives (Howel & Watson, 2007).  (Husain, 2000) stresses that lack of effective or positive study habits is a critical study problem among students at all levels. Optimism also plays a major role among college students and most of them tend to do unnecessary postponing or avoiding tasks that must be completed. This study aims to understand the relation between procrastination, study habits and optimistic attitude among college students. This study also looked into study the difference on procrastination, study habits and optimistic attitude among college students based on gender. The procrastination, study habits and optimism were analyzed among college students using Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986), Palsane and Sharma Study habits Inventory (PSSHI), Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) and also demographic sheet for getting a general information. Convenience sampling method was used and 223 samples were analyzed. The results revealed that there is a significant correlation between procrastination and study habits and also with study habits and optimism. But there is no correlation between procrastination and optimism. Also, this study implies that there is a significant difference in gender for study habits and optimism but for procrastination gender difference doesn’t exist. By understanding the relationship between procrastination, study habits and optimism an overview about the performance of college students can be analyzed and different workshops and cognitive therapy can be included to avoid procrastinating tendencies and also to improve study habits.