Deadline Dread: Investigating the Relationship between Procrastination and Career Anxiety among College Students

Abstract

Career anxiety and procrastination are prevalent challenges among college students, affecting academic performance and overall well-being. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between career anxiety and academic procrastination among college undergraduates falling under the age group of 18 to 22 years (M=20.35). The study employed a survey using Career Anxiety Scale and Academic Procrastination Scale, duly filled by a sample of 100 participants. A Pearson correlation analysis indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between career anxiety and procrastination, suggesting that higher levels of career anxiety are associated with increased procrastination tendencies, and vice versa. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting both phenomena and can include the development of structured career guidance programs and counselling services tailored to individual strengths and interests to alleviate career anxiety and mitigate procrastination behaviours. Future research should focus on exploring effective coping strategies and interventions to address career anxiety among college students, considering both trait and state anxiety, and investigating the impact of career-related stressors on academic success.