Academic Stress Predicted by Academic Procrastination among Young Adults: Moderating Role of Peer Influence Resistance

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The effect of academic procrastination in predicting academic stress among young adults.Additionally, it is aimed to explore the moderating role of peer influence resistance.METHODOLOGY: The study used a correlations design with survey method. Data was collected fromvarious government and private universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Data was collected fromDecember 2016 to January 2017. The sample included N = 400 young adults including (n = 200) malesand (n = 200) females with age ranging from 18 years to 25 years. Along with a demographic sheet,participants responses were collected on the Resistance to Peer Influence Scale, Academic Stress Scaleand Tuckman Procrastination Scale were used. Correlation analysis was computed to investigate therelationship between academic procrastination, academic stress and peer influence resistance.RESULTS: A significant positive relationship between academic procrastination and academic stresswas evidenced whereas, significant negative relationship between peer influence resistance andacademic procrastination, as well between peer influence resistance and academic stress was reported.Results also showed that females are more resistant to peer influence as compared to males whereasmales appeared to procrastinate more as compared to females. Moderation analysis was showed thathigh levels of peer influence resistance buffered against effect of academic procrastination on to theacademic stress.CONCLUSION: It is concluded that peer influence resistance is a protective factor against negative consequencesof academic procrastination in decreasing academic stress.