RESEARCH PAPER
Affective temperaments and procrastination as mediated by emotional reactivity in a nonclinical adult sample
 
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1
Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
 
2
Faculty of Psychology, University of Economics and Human Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2020-02-27
 
 
Final revision date: 2020-04-04
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-05-11
 
 
Online publication date: 2020-06-30
 
 
Publication date: 2020-07-20
 
 
Current Issues in Personality Psychology 2020;8(2):92-99
 
KEYWORDS
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ABSTRACT
Background:
The study purpose was to assess the relationship between affective temperaments and procrastination and to examine the role of emotional reactivity as a mediator in this relationship. We hypothesized that depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious tem-peraments as well as emotional reactivity would be positively correlated with procrastination while the hyperthymic temperament would be negatively correlated, and that emotional reactivity would mediate the relationship between affective temperaments and procrastination.

Participants and procedure:
The sample consisted of 315 healthy Caucasian adults (193 women and 122 men) aged 18-69 (M = 31.64, SD = 12.14). The Polish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-Questionnaire (TEMPS-A) was used to assess affective temperaments (depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable and anxious). The temperament traits postulated by the regulative theory of temperament were measured with the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour – Temperament Inventory Revised (FCB-TIR). Procrastination was evaluated via a Polish version of the Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS).

Results:
The affective temperaments positively correlated with procrastination, except for hyperthymic temperament (negative correla-tion). Emotional reactivity and perseveration had a positive relationship with procrastination, while briskness, endurance and rhythmicity had a negative correlation. Cyclothymic temperament and emotional reactivity were found to be significant predic-tors of procrastination; hyperthymic temperament, endurance and rhythmicity may provide buffers against procrastination.

Conclusions:
Cyclothymic temperament is an important predictor of procrastination. Emotional reactivity significantly mediated between cy-clothymic temperament and procrastination. Hyperthymic temperament, endurance and rhythmicity may provide a buffer against procrastination.

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