Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator? Examining stability, change, and long-term correlates of procrastination during young adulthood.

= 3,023) in Germany. We found that procrastination was slightly less stable than conscientiousness and neuroticism, tended to decrease with age, and that higher procrastination was associated with delayed entry into the workforce. Procrastination overlapped with but was distinct from conscientiousness and neuroticism. We also found strong links between changes in procrastination and changes in conscientiousness and neuroticism over time. Finally, both initial levels and trajectories of procrastination predicted consequential long-term correlates up to 18 years after the first measurement, including academic, workplace, relationship, health, and pandemic-related outcomes. In sum, this long-term longitudinal examination of procrastination highlights patterns of stability and change in procrastination and demonstrates its relevance for important life outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).