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ProcrastinationPaper

Both kinds of therapy reduced putting things off; only group therapy kept the gains.

No differenceThe short version

At the end, both kinds of therapy helped people put things off about equally.

Four young women sit in a ring of chairs, one passing a pen across the table to the woman opposite and back, turn by turn.
92
university students in Stockholm, Sweden
Randomised
groups picked at random
Self-rated
people rated themselves
2 tools
tested

The study

  1. Who took part

    92 university students in Stockholm, Sweden, who had severe trouble putting things off. Their average age was about 29, and 68 of them were women.

  2. What they did

    Both groups had eight weeks of therapy that challenges unhelpful thoughts. One group did it online on their own. The other met for four three-hour group sessions led by clinicians.

  3. What happened

    At the end of treatment, the two kinds of therapy gave similar results on putting things off, feeling low, anxiety and well-being. Six months later, the group had kept improving, while the online group had slipped a little.

What the study found

  1. No differenceProcrastination

    At the end, both kinds of therapy helped people put things off about equally.

    Small randomised trial of 92 university students in Stockholm, Sweden · vs people who did online therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

  2. HelpedProcrastination

    Six months later, the group had kept improving, but online-only people had slipped a little.

    Small randomised trial of 92 university students in Stockholm, Sweden · vs people who did online therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

  3. No differenceOther outcomes

    By the end, feeling low, anxiety and well-being had improved in both groups, with no difference between them.

    Small randomised trial of 92 university students in Stockholm, Sweden · vs people who did online therapy alone · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

How solid is this?

  • Groups picked at random
  • Plan registered in advance
  • Small group
  • People rated themselves
  • Only counted people who finished

Source

Treating Procrastination using Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Treatment Delivered via the Internet or in Groups (2017)

DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2017.08.002

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