Effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention in reducing procrastination among university students – a randomized controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Procrastination is highly prevalent among students and has several negative consequences, affecting academic performance, mental health, and prospects for future professional development. However, there exists a treatment gap, with there being many more students with problems than those receiving help. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a guided internet-based intervention, GetStarted , in addressing procrastination among college students. In this two-arm randomized controlled trial, 403 students were randomly assigned to GetStarted or waitlist control. The primary outcome was the difference in self-reported procrastination behaviours between intervention and control measured on the Irrational Procrastination scale (IPS) at post-test (4 weeks post-baseline). In addition, long-term effects based on the difference in the IPS scores from baseline to 6-months follow-up were assessed in the intervention group. Secondary outcomes were differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and mental health-related quality of life. All analyses were based on the intent to treat principle. The Random Forest Lee bounds approach was applied as a sensitivity and robustness analysis. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were examined as treatment moderators. Finally, treatment acceptability was assessed through satisfaction with treatment, program usability, satisfaction with e-coach, and treatment adherence. Our results revealed that GetStarted was significantly effective in reducing procrastination at the post-test (Cohen's d = 0.40), and this effect remained stable at 6-month follow-up ( p < .001). The intervention group also experienced reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, along with an increase in quality of life from baseline to post-test and 6-month follow-up, although these changes were not statistically significant apart from perceived stress. No significant moderators influenced treatment effectiveness. Overall, participants reported good acceptability of the treatment. GetStarted offers an effective, flexible, and low-intensity solution for treating procrastination, with the potential to prevent common mental health issues among college students. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System (Trial number: NCT05478096 ). • Procrastination is common in university students and is associated with several negative consequences • Guided online interventions may overcome barriers to treatment, but evidence remains limited and methodologically weak • GetStarted is an effective, flexible and low intensity program that reduces procrastination up to 6 months • No significant secondary effects were found for depressive symptoms, anxiety and quality of life • Students reported high satisfaction with both the intervention and their e-coaches
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Flagged first, then by citations
- Authors
- Amarnath, A., Ozmen, S., van Klaveren, C., van Straten, A., Pei, J., de Wit, L., Raabe, R. E., Cuijpers, P., & Struijs, S. Y.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Leiden University (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Amarnath, Arpana
- Venue
- Internet Interventions
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-12
- Volume
- 42
- Pages
- 100878
- ISSN
- 2214-7829 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC12512977
- OpenAlex
- W4414708281
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6
- FWCI
- 5.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Internet Interventions (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
- VU Amsterdam
- Universiteit Utrecht
- Universiteit Maastricht
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
- Universiteit Leiden
- Universiteit van Amsterdam
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
- Keywords
- procrastination, university students, online intervention, depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress, mental health-related quality of life, e-coaching, treatment acceptability, treatment moderators, long-term follow-up
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