Self-efficacy and academic procrastination in a sample of university students: A correlational study

Abstract

Introduction: in the university context, self-efficacy extends beyond mere confidence in a student's academic abilities; it is considered a fundamental pillar that impacts their academic performance, intrinsic motivation, ability to face challenges, and psychological well-being. However, its absence could trigger a series of negative effects on the student and their educational experience.Objective: to determine if self-efficacy is significantly related to academic procrastination in a sample of students from a public university in Peru.Methods: quantitative research, non-experimental design, and cross-sectional correlational type. The sample consisted of 185 students, estimated through probabilistic sampling. The instruments used for data collection were the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Academic Procrastination Scale, both with adequate psychometric properties.Results: the students were characterized by moderate levels of self-efficacy and low levels of academic procrastination. Additionally, it was determined that the Spearman's rho correlation coefficient for the variables of self-efficacy and academic procrastination was -0,687 (p <0,05). This means that as the belief in one's own ability to succeed academically increases, the tendency to postpone academic tasks decreases.Conclusions: self-efficacy is significantly related to academic procrastination in a sample of students from a public university in Peru. This finding underscores the importance of implementing interventions to strengthen students' self-efficacy while strategically addressing academic procrastination