Life history strategies and procrastination: The role of environmental unpredictability

- Procrastination may be part of a fast life history strategy.
- Environmental unpredictability predicted greater procrastination.
- A slow life history strategy meditated the association between environmental unpredictability and procrastination.
- Studies with two different samples (adolescents and young adults) provided consistent evidence.

Life history theory provides a unifying perspective on understanding human behaviors as adaptive strategies in response to particular environmental conditions. Procrastination, characterized by seeking immediate hedonic rewards and avoiding investment for future rewards, can be seen as a fast life history strategy in response to the unpredictable environment. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships between environmental unpredictability, life history strategies and procrastination. In two studies, participants completed a measure of environmental unpredictability, life history strategies and procrastination. Samples included 577 adolescents (Study 1) and 253 young adults (Study 2). Across two studies, we found that those who perceived environmental unpredictability reported greater levels of procrastination. Furthermore, a slow life history strategy mediated the association between perceptions of environmental unpredictability and procrastination. Implications for life history theory, conceptualizing procrastination, and future research directions are discussed.