This study investigated the mediating role of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and academic procrastination among Chinese college students. An online survey was conducted with 800 students from 20 unive...
This study investigated the mediating role of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and academic procrastination among Chinese college students. An online survey was conducted with 800 students from 20 universities across 10 regions in China. Participants completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Academic Procrastination Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and Hayes’s PROCESS macro(Model 4) to assess mediating effects. The research findings are as follows. Self-oriented perfectionism was negatively associated with academic procrastination, while socially prescribed perfectionism showed a positive relationship. Other-oriented perfectionism had no significant impact. Academic self-efficacy partially mediated the links between both self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism and procrastination, but not between other-oriented perfectionism and procrastination. These results suggest that self-oriented perfectionism may serve as a protective factor by enhancing self-efficacy and reducing procrastination, whereas socially prescribed perfectionism may increase procrastination by undermining self-efficacy. The study offers practical implications for interventions targeting academic self-efficacy to reduce procrastination in university settings. Finally, we conclude with implications and suggestions for further research based on our findings. Key words: perfectionism, self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, academic self-efficacy, academic procrastination, Chinese college students