ORIGINAL PAPER
Procrastination, Self-Efficacy, and Life Satisfaction in Adults With and Without ADHD: A Correlational and Comparative Study
 
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1
Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Humanitas University in Sosnowiec, Poland
 
2
1. Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Humanitas University in Sosnowiec, Poland 2. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2025-12-05
 
 
Final revision date: 2026-03-15
 
 
Acceptance date: 2026-03-16
 
 
Publication date: 2026-04-18
 
 
Corresponding author
Tomasz Rafał Tworek   

Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Humanitas University in Sosnowiec, Poland
 
 
JoMS 2026;65(1):729-750
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the significance of relationships between procrastination, generalized self-efficacy, and life satisfaction in a group of adults diagnosed with ADHD. Additionally, individuals with and without an ADHD diagnosis were compared in terms of the intensity of the measured psychological variables.

Material and methods:
The study included 228 adults: 115 with ADHD (Mage = 33.23; SD = 8.42; 76.5% women) and 113 without a diagnosis (Mage = 39.86; SD = 9.24; 74.3% women). The following psychometric tools were used: the Procrastination Scale (PPS), the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).

Results:
T-test analyses revealed significantly higher levels of procrastination (d Cohena = 2.06), and lower levels of life satisfaction (d = .53) and generalized self-efficacy (d = .41) among individuals with ADHD compared to those without a diagnosis. In the ADHD group, procrastination was negatively associated with both life satisfaction (r = –.371) and self-efficacy (r = –.296). Self-efficacy showed a positive relationship with life satisfaction (r = .468). All results were significant at p ≤ .001.

Conclusions:
The obtained results indicate significant relationships between emotional and motivational variables in individuals with ADHD, highlighting the potential health-promoting importance of strengthening self-efficacy for psychosocial functioning in this population, and higher risk of procrastination with all its negative consequences..
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