Abstract:

Background:
Procrastination or the thief of time (Ismail, 2016) is regarded nowadays to be one of the most prevalent and widespread phenomena (P. J. F. Steel, 2012). Considered to affect almost each individual sooner or later throughout the lifetime, procrastination or the behavioural tendency to deliberately postpone the commencement or completion of particular tasks (Fuschia M. Sirois & Tosti, 2012), has recently gained an increased attention due to its perceived bad effects on individuals. Among the recognized harmful consequences of procrastination, there can be mentioned: stress, low emotional and physical well-being levels, anxiety, depression, poor academic results, etc. (Sirois et al., 2007).

Objective:
The purpose of the study was to investigate procrastination’s impact on general well-being, taking also into consideration the significance of stress variable to the previously mentioned relationship. Furthermore, the research considered the possible implications of the mindfulness practice when it came to mediating the association between procrastination and general well-being. The focus also lied on how procrastination affected students and the manner in which social media in the form of influencer marketing could help not only in spreading awareness towards the subject in question but also in finding ways to overcome it.

Methodology:
The data were gathered from a total of 158 respondents by the means of an online survey measuring general well-being levels, tendency to postpone daily tasks/activities, stress levels and lastly the inclination to adopt a mindful approach as a way of overcoming stressful situations. These characteristics were measured using the following tools: the WHO- 5 Well- Being Index (1998 version), Lay’s General Procrastination Scale (Lay, 1986), Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills Scale (Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004), stress ratings with two items rated on a 10-point scale and lastly, an open question meant to assess the frequency with which individuals engage in mindfulness practices per week.

Results:
The regressions conducted revealed that procrastination was found to cause increased levels of stress, which in turn lead to decreased levels of general well-being. Moreover, in terms of the relationship between procrastination and mindfulness practice it was observed a negative association, suggesting that those respondents in the sample who tended to procrastinate had a decreased propensity to engage in mindfulness activities (e.g., meditation).
The interaction term analysis conducted as to test the mediating role of mindfulness practice showed that engagement in mindfulness activities did not moderate the association between procrastination and well-being in the analysed sample, contrary to the initial predictions.

Originality:
The implications of the mindful approach in relation to procrastination were not extensively analysed by the specialized literature. Moreover, the importance of influencer marketing on finding solutions to this modern malady among students was vaguely researched.

Keywords:

Procrastination, general well-being, mindfulness, education, influencer marketing.