Investigating the link between trait procrastination and college students’ sleep quality: the mediating role of self-efficacy and executive function

A higher level of trait procrastination was associated with lower self-efficacy, impaired executive function, and poorer sleep quality, suggesting that trait procrastination adversely affects not only mental health but also higher-order cognitive and physiological functions. Self-efficacy weakened or masked the direct relationship between trait procrastination and sleep quality. These findings offer valuable insights into the dual protective role of self-efficacy against trait procrastination affecting sleep quality. Interventions aimed at improving executive function have great potential to enhance the sleep quality of college students with procrastination problems.