Beating the Deadline: Exploring the Impact of Academic Procrastination on Academic Achievement among College Students in Sikkim

Academic procrastination has emerged as a significant behavioural concern in higher education, often linked to decreased academic performance and psychological distress among students.This study investigates the levels of academic procrastination and its relationship with academic achievement among college students in Sikkim, a North-Eastern state of India.The research also examines whether procrastination differs significantly based on gender and the type of institution (government vs. private colleges).A descriptive survey design was employed, and data were collected from a stratified random sample of 300 undergraduate students drawn from various colleges in Sikkim.Academic procrastination was measured using a standardized Academic Procrastination Scale, while academic achievement was assessed through students' self-reported Grade Point Averages (GPAs) or percentage scores.For the statistical analysis SPSS was used to calculate independent samples t-tests to compare procrastination levels across gender and institution type, and Pearson's correlation coefficient to explore the relationship between procrastination and academic achievement.The findings revealed no statistically significant difference in academic procrastination between male and female students or between students from government and private institutions.However, a significantly low negative correlation was found between academic procrastination and academic achievement, indicated that higher levels of procrastination are associated with lower academic performance.These results highlight the need for institutions in Sikkim to address procrastination behaviours through targeted academic counselling, self-regulation training, and time management workshops.The study contributes to the growing body of literature on procrastination by providing region-specific insights and underscores the importance of psychological and behavioural interventions to enhance student success in higher education.