The Effect of Childhood Traumas on Procrastination Behavior in Adulthood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19262031Keywords:
Childhood Traumas, Procrastination behavior, Adult individuals, Psychological supportAbstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between childhood traumas and general procrastination behavior, and to determine whether this relationship differs according to gender, age, educational level, marital status, and psychological help-seeking status. The research was conducted using a correlational design, one of the quantitative research methods. The population consisted of adults aged 18 years and older living in Türkiye, and the sample included 458 participants reached through convenience sampling via an online Google Forms survey. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form developed by the researcher, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33), and the Turkish adaptation of Lay’s General Procrastination Scale. In addition to descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and independent samples t-tests; the significance level was set at p < .05. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between total childhood trauma scores and general procrastination, with emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect showing the strongest associations. All trauma subdimensions were strongly and negatively correlated with denial scores. Participants who had previously received psychological support scored significantly higher on both trauma and procrastination measures. No significant gender differences were found, whereas certain subdimensions differed across age, educational level, and marital status. Overall, the results suggest that childhood traumas represent an important risk factor for procrastination in adulthood and should be considered when evaluating behavioral self-regulation processes. The findings were discussed in light of the existing literature, and recommendations were provided based on the results.
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