Examining procrastination using the DSM-5 personality trait model: Disinhibition as a core personality trait

Procrastination is a pervasive problem with negative consequences on various life outcomes. Especially for students, procrastination could lead to detriments in their education and learning. The emergence of a maladaptive trait model in the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) of the DSM-5 allows for the study of personality pathology in a dimensional manner and, thus, better capturing individual differences in personality pathology. Our present study extends the characterization of procrastination by examining the relationships of the maladaptive traits with procrastination and its aspects of decisional delay, implemental delay, and timeliness. We administered DSM-5 personality traits and procrastination measures to three hundred ten Filipino university students. Our analyses involved zero-order correlations at the dimension-level and facet-level traits with the different procrastination aspects. Results show that disinhibition positively correlates with procrastination and its aspects of decisional delay, implemental delay, and timeliness, while the other traits relate differentially to the different procrastination aspects. Among the facets of disinhibition, we found that irresponsibility, impulsiveness, and distractibility were related to all procrastination aspects. Study findings highlight the importance of personality pathology to procrastination theory and intervention.