Academic procrastination in linking motivation and achievement-related behaviours: a perspective of expectancy-value theory
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationships among college students’ achievement motivation (subjective task value and academic self-efficacy), academic procrastination (delay and missing deadlines) and achievement-related behaviours (effort and persistence). More specifically, the study investigated the mediating role of academic procrastination in linking college students’ achievement motivation to their effort and persistence from the perspective of the expectancy-value theory. A total of 584 college students enrolled in a large southern urban university completed a self-report survey for the study. The study suggested two possible pathways that motivate students to persist and put forth greater effort, rooting in students’ academic self-efficacy and subjective task value through their relationships with students’ academic procrastination.
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External motivation can aid in university adjustment but may also lead to procrastination.
“Research shows that, while external motivation can aid in university adjustment, it may also lead to procrastination [44,45].”
From Academic motivation, procrastination, and adjustment: Exploring their impact on student profiles and academic performance (2025) · cites this paper as [44]
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Academic Self-Efficacy, Procrastination, and Attrition Intentions
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“[44] also suggested that these students are more likely to do well academically because of their intrinsic motivation and strong self-regulation.”
- Authors
- Wu, F., & Fan, W.
- Affiliations
- University of Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Fan, Weihua
- ORCID
- Venue
- Educational Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-07
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 695-711
- ISSN
- 0144-3410 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-5820
- OpenAlex
- W2465679922
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 4.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
- Keywords
- academic procrastination, achievement motivation, expectancy-value theory, subjective task value, academic self-efficacy, effort, persistence, university students
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