Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review

Background: Workplace procrastination is associated with a wide range of negative organizational outcomes. Our objectives are to systematically review the factors of workplace procrastination and the instruments used to measure this construct. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for pa...

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Main Authors: Iraida Musteață, Andrei Corneliu Holman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Social Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/380
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author Iraida Musteață
Andrei Corneliu Holman
author_facet Iraida Musteață
Andrei Corneliu Holman
author_sort Iraida Musteață
collection DOAJ
description Background: Workplace procrastination is associated with a wide range of negative organizational outcomes. Our objectives are to systematically review the factors of workplace procrastination and the instruments used to measure this construct. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for papers published between 2000 and 2023 through Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Taylor & Francis, using the search terms “workplace procrastination not academic” and “employee procrastination”. Results: After screening, 33 studies were retained for analysis and were also submitted to quality assessment. The factors were grouped into two main categories, i.e., employee-related and external. Several potential factors have been investigated only in a single study, while contradictory findings have been reported regarding the effect of others, especially in culturally diverse samples. Procrastination was measured using ten different instruments, with variations in their conceptual underpinnings. Conclusions: Future advancements in understanding the factors of workplace procrastination would greatly benefit from studies on employee samples from different countries. Moreover, future research should select their workplace procrastination measures based on careful consideration of the specific facets that it aims to investigate. Our findings also suggest that addressing procrastination at work requires a comprehensive approach involving different interventions at both the organizational and individual level.
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spelling doaj-art-65ceb328479c4b3f85670ca92b4e80882025-08-20T02:21:50ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602025-06-0114638010.3390/socsci14060380Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic ReviewIraida Musteață0Andrei Corneliu Holman1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700554 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700554 Iasi, RomaniaBackground: Workplace procrastination is associated with a wide range of negative organizational outcomes. Our objectives are to systematically review the factors of workplace procrastination and the instruments used to measure this construct. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for papers published between 2000 and 2023 through Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Taylor & Francis, using the search terms “workplace procrastination not academic” and “employee procrastination”. Results: After screening, 33 studies were retained for analysis and were also submitted to quality assessment. The factors were grouped into two main categories, i.e., employee-related and external. Several potential factors have been investigated only in a single study, while contradictory findings have been reported regarding the effect of others, especially in culturally diverse samples. Procrastination was measured using ten different instruments, with variations in their conceptual underpinnings. Conclusions: Future advancements in understanding the factors of workplace procrastination would greatly benefit from studies on employee samples from different countries. Moreover, future research should select their workplace procrastination measures based on careful consideration of the specific facets that it aims to investigate. Our findings also suggest that addressing procrastination at work requires a comprehensive approach involving different interventions at both the organizational and individual level.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/380workplace procrastinationfactors of procrastinationpersonalityjob characteristicsleadershipworkload
spellingShingle Iraida Musteață
Andrei Corneliu Holman
Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
Social Sciences
workplace procrastination
factors of procrastination
personality
job characteristics
leadership
workload
title Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
title_full Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
title_short Factors of Workplace Procrastination: A Systematic Review
title_sort factors of workplace procrastination a systematic review
topic workplace procrastination
factors of procrastination
personality
job characteristics
leadership
workload
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/14/6/380
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