Online self-help intervention for procrastination: a randomized controlled trial

To explore the efficacy of online self-help procrastination intervention program (OPSI) in alleviating adult procrastination behaviors. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was adopted. Participants were randomly classified into the intervention group (<i>n</i> = 33) and the waitlist control group (<i>n</i> = 33). Three time points - baseline (t₀), 6 weeks following the intervention (t₁), and 12 weeks following the intervention (t₂) - were assessed. The intervention adherence, adverse effects, and feasibility were assessed. Procrastination, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety were employed to measure the intervention effects. 66 Chinese adults diagnosed with procrastination were recruited, and age ranged from 20.25 to 47.06 years (<i>M</i> = 29.72). For participants in the experimental group, they got a 12-week online intervention. Compared with the control group, the procrastination of the intervention group was remarkably decreased. The group and time's interaction greatly affected IPS scores (<i>t</i> (194) = 3.42, <i>p</i> < .001). The intervention group had a meaningful within-group difference between the post-intervention and baseline assessments (<i>d</i> = -1.43, 95% CI: -1.91; -0.95). There was a pronounced group-by-time interaction for PSS scores (<i>t</i> (194) = 2.82, <i>p</i> < .01). The perceived stress of intervention group was notably reduced between post-intervention and baseline (<i>d</i> = -1.06, 95% CI: -4.46; -2.33). The results provide empirical support for the use of scalable online self-help interventions as an accessible approach to procrastination management and adult mental health promotion.<b>Trial Registration</b>: ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: ChiCTR2200065752 (registered June 2022).