Impact of Academic Procrastination on Self-esteem among Dental and Medical Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of current study was to investigate the prevalence of academic procrastination among medical and dental students and examine the relationship between academic procrastination and self-esteem status in this populationT.

Study setting and duration: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 312 medical and dental undergraduates in Army Medical College Rawalpindi and Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry Rawalpindi from February 2022 to April 2022.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 312 students of Army Medical College Rawalpindi. Data were collected through questionnaire using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the Procrastination Assessment Scale-Student (PASS).The data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 24.0.Descriptive tests, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation test were performed.

Results: The results indicated that a weak positive correlation (r = 0.022, P < 0.64) existed between academic procrastination scores and self-esteem scores. The mean difference of self-esteem scores (p=0.59) and academic procrastination scores (p=0.75) among males and females does not prove to be significant. The mean self-esteem score of the MBBS students was higher than BDS students. Similarly, the mean academic procrastination score of BDS students was higher than MBBS students.

Conclusion:The current study concluded that academic procrastination leads to low self-esteem among undergraduate students.