The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults
Abstract Background Procrastination is the voluntary delay of urgent tasks. Precrastination, on the other hand, is the tendency to complete tasks as soon as possible. The extreme of both these conditions is considered harmful to mental health. There was a significant gap in the measurement of these...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03072-6 |
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| author | Waqar Husain Khaled Trabelsi Achraf Ammar Zahra Saif Haitham Jahrami |
| author_facet | Waqar Husain Khaled Trabelsi Achraf Ammar Zahra Saif Haitham Jahrami |
| author_sort | Waqar Husain |
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| description | Abstract Background Procrastination is the voluntary delay of urgent tasks. Precrastination, on the other hand, is the tendency to complete tasks as soon as possible. The extreme of both these conditions is considered harmful to mental health. There was a significant gap in the measurement of these conditions, and no single tool was discovered to measure both these conditions simultaneously. The current study was the first-ever in this regard, intended to assess a person's inclination toward procrastination or precrastination at the same time. Objective The present study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive scale to measure both procrastination and precrastination traits single-handedly. Methods The development of the Procrastination and Precrastination Traits Scale (PPTS) involved generating potential items through literature review, expert feedback, pilot testing, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Moreover, the convergent and divergent validity were also evaluated. Data were collected using crowd-sourcing from 5000 participants (women = 60%; aged 18 to 38 years with a mean age of 28 years, SD = 5) from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Results The EFA identified two distinct factors representing procrastination and precrastination, leading to an 18-item scale. The CFA confirmed a good model fit for the two-factor structure of the 18 items. The reliability of both procrastination (ω = 0.86, α = 0.87) and precrastination (ω = 0.79, α = 0.77) was highly satisfying. The fit indices of the CFA reflected strong validity (CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, NNFI = 0.93, and RMSEA = 0.05). The convergent validity of the PPTS was established through the significant positive correlation of its procrastination scale with the Pure Procrastination Scale (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). The divergent validity of the PPTS was established through the significant inverse correlation of its procrastination scale with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (r = -0.47; p < 0.001). Conclusions The PPTS is a reliable and valid tool for measuring procrastination and precrastination. The process of developing and validating the PPTS involved data collection from six diverse continents, enabling the PPTS's potential universality and significance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-64fc502bfb214f6d9244e2eb4ec2442e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-64fc502bfb214f6d9244e2eb4ec2442e2025-08-20T03:43:31ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-07-0113111310.1186/s40359-025-03072-6The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adultsWaqar Husain0Khaled Trabelsi1Achraf Ammar2Zahra Saif3Haitham Jahrami4Department of Humanities, COMSATS University IslamabadResearch Laboratory Education, Sport Et Santé, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of SfaxDepartment of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University MainzGovernment HospitalsGovernment HospitalsAbstract Background Procrastination is the voluntary delay of urgent tasks. Precrastination, on the other hand, is the tendency to complete tasks as soon as possible. The extreme of both these conditions is considered harmful to mental health. There was a significant gap in the measurement of these conditions, and no single tool was discovered to measure both these conditions simultaneously. The current study was the first-ever in this regard, intended to assess a person's inclination toward procrastination or precrastination at the same time. Objective The present study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive scale to measure both procrastination and precrastination traits single-handedly. Methods The development of the Procrastination and Precrastination Traits Scale (PPTS) involved generating potential items through literature review, expert feedback, pilot testing, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Moreover, the convergent and divergent validity were also evaluated. Data were collected using crowd-sourcing from 5000 participants (women = 60%; aged 18 to 38 years with a mean age of 28 years, SD = 5) from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Results The EFA identified two distinct factors representing procrastination and precrastination, leading to an 18-item scale. The CFA confirmed a good model fit for the two-factor structure of the 18 items. The reliability of both procrastination (ω = 0.86, α = 0.87) and precrastination (ω = 0.79, α = 0.77) was highly satisfying. The fit indices of the CFA reflected strong validity (CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, NNFI = 0.93, and RMSEA = 0.05). The convergent validity of the PPTS was established through the significant positive correlation of its procrastination scale with the Pure Procrastination Scale (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). The divergent validity of the PPTS was established through the significant inverse correlation of its procrastination scale with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (r = -0.47; p < 0.001). Conclusions The PPTS is a reliable and valid tool for measuring procrastination and precrastination. The process of developing and validating the PPTS involved data collection from six diverse continents, enabling the PPTS's potential universality and significance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03072-6ProcrastinationPrecrastinationScale DevelopmentFactor AnalysisReliabilityValidity |
| spellingShingle | Waqar Husain Khaled Trabelsi Achraf Ammar Zahra Saif Haitham Jahrami The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults BMC Psychology Procrastination Precrastination Scale Development Factor Analysis Reliability Validity |
| title | The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| title_full | The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| title_fullStr | The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| title_short | The development and validation of a one-off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| title_sort | development and validation of a one off scale to measure procrastination and precrastination traits in young adults |
| topic | Procrastination Precrastination Scale Development Factor Analysis Reliability Validity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03072-6 |
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