The Moderating Role of Metacognitive Beliefs in a CBT-Oriented Training for Procrastination

Abstract

This aim of the current study was to assess the treatment efficacy of a short CGT-oriented intervention in reducing procrastination in a convenience sample (n=22) of students with self-reported problems with procrastination and to assess if treatment effects were moderated by positive or negative metacognitive beliefs. Levels of procrastination and metacognitive beliefs were measured, after which participants received a 4-week CBT-training that was based on previous research. It was hypothesized that the treatment was effective in treating procrastination and that lower levels of positive and/or negative metacognitive beliefs were associated with larger treatment outcomes. Results revealed the training to be effective but did reveal no moderation-effect of metacognitive beliefs. These results need to be interpreted with caution, because the current study lacked a proper control group and had a limited sample size. Future research should focus on assessing the treatment efficacy in large scale randomized controlled trials and should assess whether metacognitive therapy could be beneficial in the treatment of procrastination. Keywords: procrastination, positive metacognitions, negative metacognitions, cognitive behavioral therapy