How to Help Students Overcome Academic Procrastination

Last updated: April 28, 2025
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

N/A

Condition

N/A

Treatment

Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT)

Imaginary pill treatment (IP)

Clinical Study ID

NCT05730101
024-22-01; ub23Heimgartner
  • Ages 18-40
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate two different treatment methods in a sample of procrastinating students of the University of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. As first treatment, a cognitive-behavioral treatment has been chosen as these type of treatment already showed promising results in reducing students' procrastination behavior. The alternative to the more time-intensive cognitive-behavioral treatment is the application of imaginary pills to students suffering from procrastination.

This study evaluates the potential of the cognitive-behavioral and the imaginary pill treatment to reduce procrastination in a three-arm randomized controlled trial with parallel group between-subject design.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male and female Bachelor's and Master's students of the University of Basel and theUniversity of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)

  • Age between 18 and 40

  • Self-reported academic procrastination criterion is fulfilled (IPS value ≥ 29points)

  • Healthy by self-report statement (i.e., no known current physiological orpsychological disorders, not taking medication, not in psychological/psychiatrictreatment)

  • Willing to participate in the study

  • Sufficient German language skills to follow the instructions and participate ingroup sessions

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Self-reported academic procrastination criteria not fulfilled: IPS < 29

  • Any current psychological or physiological disease

  • Current psychological or psychiatric treatment

  • Current intake of psychotropic medication

  • Insufficient German language skills to understand the instructions or discuss ingroup sessions

  • Daily consumption of more than three alcoholic standard beverages (a standardalcoholic beverage is defined as either 3dl beer or 1dl wine or 2cl spirits)

  • Regular drug consumption (THC, cocaine, heroin, etc.)

Study Design

Total Participants: 115
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT)
Phase:
Study Start date:
January 31, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
December 22, 2024

Study Description

Procrastination can be defined as "to voluntarily delay an intended course of action despite expecting to be worse off for the delay". Academic procrastination is limited to tasks and activities related to and/or relevant to learning and studying and manifests itself in consistently postponing studying for exams, submitting assignments late, and failing to register for classes in time. Despite the high prevalence of procrastination and the negative consequences on health and well-being, there is still no gold standard of treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate two different treatment methods in a sample of procrastinating students of the University of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. As first treatment, a cognitive-behavioral treatment has been chosen as these type of treatment already showed promising results in reducing students' procrastination behavior. The alternative to the more time-intensive cognitive-behavioral treatment is the application of imaginary pills to students suffering from procrastination.

This study evaluates the potential of the cognitive-behavioral and the imaginary pill treatment to reduce procrastination in a three-arm randomized controlled trial with parallel group between-subject design.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Basel, Division of Clinical Psychologie and Psychotherapy, Faculty for Psychology

    Basel, 4055
    Switzerland

    Site Not Available

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