Young and old adults’ health-related procrastination, quality of sleep and mental wellbeing

Abstract

Background: procrastination, the intentional postponement of tasks that need to be performed in adequate time affects individual’s health related behaviours. Delay in consulting medical professional and seeking treatment in case of some ailment may influence the sleep quality and mental wellbeing of a person. Due to dilatory tendencies, number of commitments, busy routine, and being occupied with job related matters, people tend to defer their visits to doctor and hang up their medical checkups. Current study explored the health related procrastinatory behaviours; sleep quality and mental well being of young and old people.  Methods: This was cross sectional study and used purposive sampling approach for data collection. Study was completed in two parts; Part I was about translation and determination of psychometric properties of Health Related Procrastination Measure, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Part II was main study in which data was collected on study variables from adults of different age groups. Results: Findings showed sound psychometric properties of Urdu versions of HRPM and PSQI. Results revealed that those who show higher level of health related procrastination have poor sleep quality and low mental well being. Conclusion: Urdu translations of HRPM and PSQI offer sound measures to use in indigenous context. Findings have implications for adults, medical practitioners, and psychologists to help people in avoiding health related procrastination behaviours which may improve their sleep quality and metal well being.