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Striving to Avoid Inferiority and Procrastination among University Students: The Mediating Roles of Stress and Self-Control

Author

Listed:
  • Peter-Yee-Lap To

    (Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Barbara-Chuen-Yee Lo

    (Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China
    Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Ting-Kin Ng

    (Wofoo Joseph Lee Consulting and Counselling Psychology Research Centre, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Bernard-Pak-Ho Wong

    (Department of Educational Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Anna-Wai-Man Choi

    (Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

The current study intended to examine whether the relationship between university students’ striving to avoid inferiority (SAI) and procrastination was serially mediated by stress and self-control. The sample consisted of 154 Hong Kong university students. Their levels of striving to avoid inferiority, stress, self-control, and procrastination were measured by the Striving to Avoid Inferiority Scale (SAIS) , the stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ), and the General Procrastination Scale (GPS), respectively. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that SAI positively predicted stress, stress negatively predicted self-control, and self-control negatively predicted procrastination. SAI did not directly predict procrastination. The results of bootstrapping analyses supported the hypotheses that the effect of stress on procrastination was mediated by self-control, the effect of SAI on self-control was mediated by stress, and more importantly, the effect of SAI on procrastination was serially mediated by stress and self-control. Further research is suggested to investigate the thoughts and feelings pertinent to procrastination and the actual duration of procrastination among university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter-Yee-Lap To & Barbara-Chuen-Yee Lo & Ting-Kin Ng & Bernard-Pak-Ho Wong & Anna-Wai-Man Choi, 2021. "Striving to Avoid Inferiority and Procrastination among University Students: The Mediating Roles of Stress and Self-Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5570-:d:560484
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yu, Si & Zhang, Chunyang & Zhou, Yuyang & Shi, Yiwei & Xu, Wei, 2020. "Longitudinal relationship between inferiority and maladjustment among college students: The mediation of dispositional mindfulness and moderation of left-behind experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Lee, Youkyung & Ha, Jung Hee & Jue, Juliet, 2020. "Structural equation modeling and the effect of perceived academic inferiority, socially prescribed perfectionism, and parents’ forced social comparison on adolescents’ depression and aggression," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Kai Ren & Xiaolu Liu & Yujuan Feng & Changqing Li & Dingding Sun & Ke Qiu, 2021. "The Relationship between Physical Activity and Academic Procrastination in Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Xinghua Li & Dehua Liu, 2022. "The Influence of Technostress on Cyberslacking of College Students in Technology-Enhanced Learning: Mediating Effects of Deficient Self-Control and Burnout," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.

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