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The Effect of Trait Anxiety on Bedtime Procrastination: the Mediating Role of Self-Control

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Abstract

Background

Bedtime procrastination (BP), a special type of health behavior procrastination, is considered to be a failure of self-control. Notably, self-control may mediate the effect of trait anxiety on general procrastination. However, there is no evidence demonstrating the role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP. Moreover, the association between BP and trait anxiety has not yet been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the direct relationship between them as well as the mediating role of self-control in this relationship.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey included 718 college students enrolled in Chinese universities between October 2018 and January 2020. The Chinese versions of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to evaluate BP, self-control, and trait anxiety, respectively.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed trait anxiety independently predicted BP while controlling for demographic characteristics. Correlation analyses showed that BP was positively correlated with trait anxiety, but negatively related to self-control. Structural equation modeling further revealed a mediating role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP.

Conclusions

Trait anxiety is a significant independent predictor of BP and may induce BP directly or indirectly through the effect of self-control. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between trait anxiety and BP and the underlying mechanism by exploring the mediating effect of self-control. As such, trait anxiety and self-control should be included in prevention and intervention strategies to address BP behavior in college students.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31800924).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Chengwei Zhang and Dexin Meng contributed equally to this work as the first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, No. 850 Huanghe Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, 116029, China

    Liwei Zhu, Xiaohan Ma, Jing Guo, Yiming Fu, Ying Zhao & Li Mu

  2. Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Province, Dalian, China

    Liwei Zhu, Xiaohan Ma, Jing Guo, Yiming Fu, Ying Zhao & Li Mu

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China

    Chengwei Zhang

  4. Department of Physiology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China

    Dexin Meng

  5. Department of Rehabilitation Therapeutics, School of Nursing, Jilin University, 965 Xinjiang Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China

    Haiyan Xu

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  1. Chengwei Zhang
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Correspondence to Haiyan Xu or Li Mu.

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Zhang, C., Meng, D., Zhu, L. et al. The Effect of Trait Anxiety on Bedtime Procrastination: the Mediating Role of Self-Control. Int.J. Behav. Med. 30, 260–267 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-022-10089-3

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