Explanations on procrastinating school tasks reported by undergraduate Occupationional therapy mtudents: a qualitative study

• Grant number: 20/01613-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Egberto Ribeiro Turato
• Grantee: Erick Gonçalves dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The subject of university procrastination among students has been gaining ground in the scientific literature. It is a phenomenon of psychosocial dimensions, understood as successive postponements of necessary activities, usually associated with feelings of guilt for not fulfilling responsibilities. It is accompanied by a series of rationalizing psychological defenses on why the postponement. Often, procrastination can be perceived as normal behavior, although it becomes a problem as it impedes the expected psycho and social production of tasks. When behavior is chronic, procrastination may be a sign of clinical emotional / behavioral disorders. The scientific literature brings mainly quantitative research on the subject, pointing correlation between the practice of procrastination and school performance for example. It may also show correlations (statistics) with self-esteem problems and manifestations associating depression with procrastinating behavior. There are few qualitative studies on this topic, and there is no research exploring the meanings of procrastination among undergraduate nursing students. Objective: To explore explanations reported by undergraduate nursing students, attributed to procrastinating behavior, related to school tasks, considering self referred to as the 'habitual experiencers' of the phenomenon. Participants and Method: Clinical-qualitative design, a method brought and refined from the Humanities. Sample of subjects constructed mainly intentionally, by snowball technique, with successive indications among fellow nursing students. The sample will be closed by the criterion of theoretical information saturation. The technique of semi-directed interview of open-ended questions will be applied. The interview material will be fully transcribed and treated by the Clinical Qualitative Content Analysis. Expected Outcomes: There is relevance to the scientific understanding of such meanings attributed by students to procrastinating behavior, as the findings may be helpful in assisting in the guidance given by educators/teachers and university authorities; as well as by clinicians who meet this demand (physicians and health care professionals in general and psychotherapists of various lines). Moreover, for consumption by the students themselves to better understand what would be under this phenomenon and thus better handle their own eventual difficulties.