Impact of childhood adversity and recent stressful events on procrastination of middle school students

HE Yitong; JIANG Weiqing; PENG Shuyi; LIU Qianyu; GUO Lan

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025271

Volume 46 Issue 9

Sep. 2025

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HE Yitong, JIANG Weiqing, PENG Shuyi, LIU Qianyu, GUO Lan. Impact of childhood adversity and recent stressful events on procrastination of middle school students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(9): 1292-1296. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025271

Citation:

HE Yitong, JIANG Weiqing, PENG Shuyi, LIU Qianyu, GUO Lan. Impact of childhood adversity and recent stressful events on procrastination of middle school students[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(9): 1292-1296. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025271

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Impact of childhood adversity and recent stressful events on procrastination of middle school students

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025271

School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China

Received Date: 2025-02-19
Rev Recd Date: 2025-06-12

Available Online: 2025-10-10

Publish Date: 2025-09-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influence of childhood adversity on procrastination of middle school students, and to analyze the mediating effect and interaction of recent stressful events, providing a scientific basis for developing prevention and intervention strategies for procrastination behavior in adolescents. Methods In March 2023, a multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to select 3 167 students from 9 junior and senior high schools in Guangzhou for investigation. Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather information on demographic characteristics, childhood adversity, procrastination and recent stressful life events. Generalized linear mixed models were employed to analyze the association between childhood adversity and procrastination among middle school students. Mediation analysis with multiplicative and additive interaction models were constructed to examine the mediating and interactive effects of recent stressful events. Results Among the middle school students, 28.8% reported experiencing at least one type of childhood adversity. The mean scores for recent stressful events and procrastination were (18.85±16.69) and (23.13±9.25), respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, school, household living conditions and economic status, parental education level, and depressive symptom, generalized linear mixed model analysis revealed that childhood adversity and its subdimensions were positively associated with procrastination among middle school students(β=0.83-3.27, all P < 0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that recent stressful events partially mediated the relationship between childhood adversity and procrastination among middle school students, accounting for 26.7% of the total effect. Interaction analysis showed no statistically significant interaction between childhood adversity and recent stressful events among middle school students[OR(95%CI)=0.98(0.60-1.36), RERI(95%CI)=0.87(-0.22-1.96), both P>0.05]. Conclusion Childhood adversity is a potential risk factor for procrastination among middle school students, and recent negative life events partially mediate this association.
- Life change events,
- Pressure,
- Mental health,
- Students

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References(25)

References

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