Relating multidimensional perfectionism and academic procrastination among Indian university students : Is there any gender divide?

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of multidimensional perfectionism on academic procrastination among university students in India and to explore whether gender plays any role in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a sample of 90 female and 60 male students, aged 18-23 years, enrolled in full-time bachelor’s and master’s programs in a central university in the National Capital Region of India and analyzed adopting different statistical techniques. Findings The findings indicated that academic procrastination positively correlates with all the three dimensions of perfectionism – self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism. The different dimensions of perfectionism also significantly predict academic procrastination. Gender differences exist with regard to other-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism and academic procrastination. Research limitations/implications The results highlight that the different dimensions of perfectionism play a critical role in shaping academic procrastination among university students, but this trajectory often differs between male and female students. Further research among a larger student audience would help concretize the study conclusions. Originality/value This study extends the extant literature by examining the predictive relationships between the different dimensions of perfectionism and academic procrastination and the gender differences that exist with regard to academic procrastination and the different dimensions of perfectionism among university students, especially within the context of a developing country (i.e., India).