Prediction of Procrastination Based on Obsessive Beliefs and Emotional Schemas in Nurses

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The present study aimed to predict procrastination based on obsessive beliefs and emotional schemas among nurses.

Methodology: The study employed a descriptive correlational design. The study population comprised all nurses employed at Tehran Farahiyat Hospital. From this population, 300 participants were initially selected as the preliminary sample. Following data analysis, 100 participants with higher scores on the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44; Freeston et al., 2003) were selected as the final sample. Data collection instruments included the Tuckman Procrastination Scale (TPS; Tuckman, 1991), the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44; Freeston et al., 2003), and the Emotional Schema Scale-P (ESS-P; Lien, 2002). Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses via SPSS-26.

Findings: Regression analysis results indicated that obsessive beliefs were positively and significantly associated with procrastination (β = 0.35, p = 0.007), whereas emotional schemas were negatively and significantly associated with procrastination (β = −0.40, p = 0.004). Together, these two variables accounted for 46% of the variance in nurses’ procrastination.

Conclusion: Obsessive beliefs and emotional schemas play a significant role in explaining procrastinatory behaviors in clinical nursing settings and can be considered as intervention targets to reduce delays in healthcare service delivery.