Examination of Academic Procrastination and Affecting Factors in Students at Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Programs

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine academic procrastination and affecting factors in students at PhD in nursing programs. Students experience difficulties and stress at doctor of philosophy (PhD) in nursing programs. The study has a descriptive and cross-sectional design. Data collection was performed between April 2018 and January 2020 at PhD in nursing programs (n= 91). The data collection tools utilized were general descriptive characteristics form and the Scale of Academic Procrastination (SAP). Data were collected online. The students had a low median score for academic procrastination (X-median=2.18; Range=2.74). It was determined that there was a significant difference between marital status and APBS score (p= 0.028). There was a significant difference on the SAP in terms of selecting a supervisor (p= 0.049), relationship with the supervisor (p= 0.003), time management (p= 0.009), feeling anxious (p= 0.000) and perfectionism (p= 0.034). As a result of the analysis, it was found that the PhD in nursing students were married, did not choose their supervisors, had a weak relationship with their supervisors, had difficulty in time management, always felt anxious, did not consider themselves academic self-efficacy, and were perfectionists.