Investigating the Relationship between Procrastination and Sleep Quality among Hostelers: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Procrastination and sleep quality are two factors that significantly affect students’ mental health, academic performance, and daily functioning (Kroese et al., 2014; Andrade and Shukla, 2023). Procrastination is the voluntary delay of important tasks despite expecting negative consequences, while sleep quality reflects how well a person sleeps, including duration, restfulness, and overall satisfaction.  Sleep is essential for cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being, while procrastination is a behavioral tendency that can disturb healthy routines and lead to stress. Hostel students often face unique environmental, social, and lifestyle pressures that can increase these effects. Current study aims to examine the relationship between procrastination and sleep quality among hostelers, focusing on how higher procrastination levels may impact sleep patterns. A correlational research design was used to collect data from 102 hostelers aged 18 to 22 years through Google Forms. The Procrastination Assessment Scale (PASS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to measure procrastination levels and sleep quality, respectively. Spearman’s rho correlation was used to analyse the data. The results revealed a significant positive correlation (ρ = .338, p < .01) between procrastination and sleep quality, indicating that students with higher procrastination levels tend to experience poorer sleep quality. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address procrastination and improve sleep hygiene among hostel students. Strategies such as time management training, digital discipline programs, and psychological support can help enhance both sleep quality and academic performance.