Perfectionism and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Procrastination and Self-Regulation

The general objective of this study is to explore the relationship between negative perfectionism and life satisfaction. Specifically, the study aims to address two research goals: (1) to investigate the mediating role of procrastination in the relationship between perfectionism and life satisfaction, and (2) to examine the moderating role of self-regulation in the relationship between perfectionism and procrastination. Using a cross-sectional design, this study examined the responses of a convenience sample of 202 adults aged between 18 and 59 years. The mediation analysis indicated that procrastination partially explains the relationship between negative perfectionism and life satisfaction. In contrast, the moderation analysis did not support the role of self-regulation as a moderator; the influence of perfectionism on procrastination is not significantly shaped by self-regulatory behaviors. The study revealed a significant relationship between maladaptive perfectionism, procrastination, and life satisfaction, supporting the mediating role of procrastination. Although the moderating role of self-regulation was not supported by the data, it remains a relevant variable in understanding procrastinatory behavior, as procrastination is often considered a failure of the self-regulation process.