A systematic review on the association between ADHD and procrastination

BACKGROUND: Procrastination is a maladaptive self-regulation behavior frequently observed in individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet the consistency and underlying mechanisms of this association remain unclear. METHODS: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Peer-reviewed quantitative studies examining the relationship between ADHD (diagnosis or symptoms) and procrastination using validated measures were included. RESULTS: Eleven studies (N = 2788) met inclusion criteria. Across studies, ADHD symptoms were consistently positively associated with procrastination. Inattention emerged as the most robust correlate. Findings were also consistent with the involvement of executive functioning deficits, emotion dysregulation, and motivational processes, although evidence was primarily based on cross-sectional designs. CONCLUSION: The available evidence supports a robust association between ADHD symptoms and procrastination. However, methodological limitations, including reliance on cross-sectional data and heterogeneous measures, preclude causal inferences. Future research should employ longitudinal and multi-method designs to clarify underlying mechanisms.