Processes of change in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for procrastination : moderation and longitudinal mediation analyses of randomized controlled trial data
Processes of change in cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for procrastination : moderation and longitudinal mediation analyses of randomized controlled trial data
StatusPost-Print
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Authors
Browarczyk, Weronika
Michałowski, Jarosław
Pietruch, Magdalena
Kowalski, Joachim
Wypych, Marek
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Date
2026-06-26
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Journal title
Behaviour Research and Therapy
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Pages
ISSN
0005-7967
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Weblink
Access date
2026-07-01
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Objective. Procrastination is a common self-regulatory difficulty leading to impaired well-being. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the most promising intervention for procrastination, it remains unclear whether outcomes vary across individuals and which mechanisms drive therapeutic change. To address these gaps, we synthesized key mechanistic accounts of procrastination in an integrative cognitive-behavioral (ICB-P) model outlining processes involved in development and persistence of procrastination. We then comprehensively examined the processes of change in CBT for procrastination.
Methods. Candidate moderators and mechanisms of therapeutic change were examined in secondary analyses of pooled data (N = 459) from two randomized controlled trials comparing CBT for academic procrastination with a wait-list control. Procrastination and a wide set of candidate mechanisms were assessed at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Moderation analyses and longitudinal structural equation models with contemporaneous (within-wave) and lagged (cross-wave) mediation paths were applied.
Results. Participants with greater baseline emotion regulation difficulties benefited more from the intervention, whereas dysfunctional beliefs associated with some cluster B personality disorders were linked to lower improvements. Baseline depression, anxiety, or ADHD symptoms did not moderate outcomes. Regarding mechanisms of change, increased task value and proactive control mediated both contemporaneous and lagged reductions in procrastination. Contemporaneous effects were mediated through increased positive and decreased negative task-related affect, improved perseverance, emotional clarity, and internal attributions of success.
Conclusions. Findings suggest broad applicability of CBT for procrastination. Optimized interventions could enhance the implicated mechanisms, i.e. target task-related affect and self-regulation, or incorporate additional components. Directions for future research are discussed.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
cognitive-behavioral therapy
procrastination
mechanisms of change
treatment moderators
treatment mediators
structural equation models
randomized controlled trial
procrastination
mechanisms of change
treatment moderators
treatment mediators
structural equation models
randomized controlled trial
Keywords other
Sustainable Development Goals
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2021/43/B/HS6/02024
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