From Burden to Resource: The Role of Self-Reflection in The Well-Being of Young Procrastinators

This article examines the relationship between self-reflection and psychological well-being in young adults with medium to high levels of procrastination. The relevance of the study is driven by the growing prevalence of procrastination among youth, particularly during periods of life transition and instability. The aim was to explore age-related differences in the relationship between self-reflection and well-being in procrastinators aged 25–35. Both quantitative (Lay, Ryff, Diener, Grant scales) and qualitative methods (content analysis of a projective response) were applied, along with factor and cluster analyses. The results indicate that for participants under 30, self-reflection showed either no significant relationship or negative correlations with self-acceptance, especially when dominated by behavioral reflection. In contrast, participants over 30 demonstrated positive associations between self-reflection and most dimensions of psychological well-being, particularly when the reflection had an emotional focus. Three procrastinator types were identified: reflective-critical, reflective-effective, and non-reflective adaptive. High-quality self-reflection, particularly emotional, emerged as a key resource for enhancing well-being.