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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05730101

How to Help Students Overcome Academic Procrastination

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Procrastination

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

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

Basel, 4055, Switzerland

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male and female Bachelor's and Master's students of the University of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
  • Age between 18 and 40
  • Self-reported academic procrastination criterion is fulfilled (IPS value ≥ 29 points)
  • Healthy by self-report statement (i.e., no known current physiological or psychological disorders, not taking medication, not in psychological/psychiatric treatment)
  • Willing to participate in the study
  • Sufficient German language skills to follow the instructions and participate in group sessions

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 in group sessions
  • Daily consumption of more than three alcoholic standard beverages (a standard alcoholic beverage is defined as either 3dl beer or 1dl wine or 2cl spirits)
  • Regular drug consumption (THC, cocaine, heroin, etc.)

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT)

Other

In the first individual session (CBT1), together with the therapist, participants develop a behavioral and conditional model of their procrastination behavior. In the next 2 group sessions (CBT2 and CBT3), participants receive psychoeducation on procrastination. The focus is on learning the method of starting on time. In the third group session (CBT4), participants identify key procrastination-promoting thoughts and are supported to develop alternative thoughts; deepened in the second individual session (CBT5). In the next 2 group sessions (CBT 6 and CBT7), participants are informed about action planning with focus on learning to plan realistically. The last group session is a concluding session: Experiences with the methods learned and an outlook on further steps and goals are discussed. At the end of both individual sessions (CBT1 and CBT5), participants receive a link to an online survey to rate their treatment expectations (treatment expectation 1 and 2).

Imaginary pill treatment (IP)

Other

In the first session (IP1), participants will be asked about the nature of their procrastination behavior and receive a procedure to take an imaginary pill following a rationale of 5 steps. In the second IP session (IP2), experiences with taking the IP are discussed and the procedure of taking the IP is adapted according to previous experiences and current needs. The rationale of the second session encompasses the same five steps with small modifications: 1) discussing IP sensitive problem and adapting it if necessary, 2) building trust/belief/reality of the IP, 3) discussing the personally meaningful IP and adapting it if necessary, 4) taking the IP, 5) adapting the procedure for self-administering the IP in real life on daily basis if necessary and building adherence. At the end of both sessions, participants receive a link to an online survey to rate their treatment expectations (treatment expectation 1 and 2).

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in German version of the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Assessment of academic procrastination level: The IPS measures the degree of irrational delay causing procrastination. The German version of the IPS consists of nine questions, e.g. "I put things off so long that my well-being or efficiency unnecessarily suffers". Participants can respond on a 5-point scale ranging from 1="never" to 5="always/constantly".

  2. Change in Academic Procrastination State Inventory (APSI)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Assessment of academic procrastination level: The APSI consists of 23 item, all referring to fluctuations in academic procrastination, behavior and thoughts and participants have to rate the frequency of engaging in the items in the previous week on a five point Likert scale ranging from 1="never" to 5="always".

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Patient HealthQuestionnaire (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Depressive symptoms are assessed with the Patient HealthQuestionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 features nine items (e.g. "Little interest or enjoyment of your activities") to be rated on a four-point Likert scale (0="not at all" to 3="nearly every day").

  2. Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD-7)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Anxiety is assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7. It involves seven items assessing anxiety and excessive worry (e.g. "Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen") to be rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0="not at all" to 4="nearly every day").

  3. Change in World Health Organization (WHO) Well-Being Index (WHO-5)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Subjective psychological well-being is assessed with the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Items (e..g. "I have felt cheerful and in good spirits") are rated from 0="at no time" to 5="all the time".

  4. Change in the German version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

    Time frame: At baseline (t0 = week 1), week 9 (t1), week 16 (t2), and week 42 (t4)

    Stress is assessed with the German version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). 10 items assess the degree to which life has been experienced as unpredictable, uncontrollable and overwhelming (e.g. "In the last two weeks, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?"), rated on a 5-point Likert-type scale (0="never" to 4="very often").

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Other

Registry information

Official study title

How to Help Students Overcome Academic Procrastination - Randomized-controlled Trial of Cognitive-behavioral Group and Imaginary Pills Treatment

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 15, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 29, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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