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What if Hard Work Cannot Pay Off? Perceived Low Social Mobility Increases Passive Procrastination Among Students

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

Abstract

Social mobility refers to individuals’ movement through a social hierarchy. We examine the effect of perceived low social mobility on passive procrastination among a specific group—students. Across five studies (N = 1,042) using a mixed-method approach, including a three-wave longitudinal survey (Study 1), a cross-sectional survey (Study 2), and three fully controlled experiments (Studies 3A, 3B, and 4), we consistently found that students perceiving low social mobility exhibit a greater tendency to procrastinate passively. Notably, perceiving low social mobility was only causally related to passive, not active, procrastination (Study 4). Our findings add to the literature on both social mobility perceptions and procrastination, and identify a new approach to understanding passive procrastination among students. © The Author(s) 2025
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)827-834
Number of pages8
JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science
Volume16
Issue number7
Online published5 Feb 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2025

Funding

This research was supported by SRG-Fd-CityU Strategic Research Grant (grant no. 7006029) awarded to X.W.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Research Keywords

  • perceived social mobility
  • procrastination
  • students

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