Still Minds, Timely Minds - Personality, Procrastination, and the Promise of Meditation

Abstract

This study investigates the interplay between personality, resilience, and academic procrastination. Drawing on ayurveda-based triguna and big five personality frameworks the research is structured into three studies. Study 1 employs a correlational design with 300 students to examine the relationships between Triguna personality types (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), resilience, and academic procrastination among college students aged 17 to 24 years (M = 20.69, SD = 2.2). Sattva (the mindset of balance, purpose, and mindful action) came out as the strongest predictor (B = -1.211, p < .001) of procrastination. Study 2 examines concurrent validity between big five personality types and Triguna theory in academic procrastination. Conscientiousness negatively predicted procrastination (B = - 4.432, p < .001) and sattva was positively correlated with Conscientiousness (r = .275, p < .01) Study 3 attempts to enhance ‘focus’ an element of sattva via meditation. Headspace was used with 38 students aged 18 to 22 years (M = 19.32, SD = 1.2) over four weeks. Scores in high procrastination group dropped within the course of meditation t(18) = 7.53, p < .001, d = 1.73. Low procrastinators showed a moderate increase, t(18) = -2.69, p = .015, d = -0.62. Mind wandering showed significant time effect, F(1.58, 3.08) = 11.27, p < .001, η² = .238, with a notable reduction in high procrastinators (p = .013, d = 0.76), and a large between-group difference at (t(36) = 4.25, p < .001, d = 1.45). Impulsivity was measured with a go-no-go task. Omission errors decreased significantly over time (p = .041, η² = 0.107). Go accuracy improved significantly across sessions (p = .041, η² = 0.107), though reaction time showed no significant change.