Parents have been alerted that what might look like typical teenage laziness or a tendency to procrastinate could actually be red flags for more serious health concerns.
Fiona Yassin, the founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, has shed light on the complex factors contributing to teenage procrastination, highlighting recent studies that link it to a particular psychological problem. She stated: “Procrastinating behaviour can be a warning sign to parents that their child is suffering with low self-esteem.”
Emerging research has uncovered a “two-way relationship” between procrastination and low self-esteem, where each condition exacerbates the other, potentially trapping young individuals in a harmful loop, reports Walesonline.
Yassin further explained: “Adolescents with low self-esteem may have less belief in their ability to complete a task well, causing them to avoid it. Lower motivation and self-expectation traits connected to low self-esteem may also lead to procrastination.”
“On the other hand, procrastination can also lead to low self-esteem among adolescents. Procrastination is associated with poorer academic performance which can make young people feel less good about themselves.”
She cautioned that if teens keep putting things off, especially during school time, it could start to really mess with their mental and physical health, leading to fatigue, guilt, and anxiety. Yassin pointed out: “These negative emotions might further harm a young person’s self-esteem, reinforcing a vicious cycle of low self-esteem and procrastination.”
The way parents act can play a big part in this too, especially when it comes to schoolwork. The expert warned that if you expect too much or are too harsh on your kids’ successes, they might start trying to be perfect all the time.
She said that this perfectionism can make them scared of not living up to these high standards, so they end up delaying tasks, which just makes them more stressed and anxious.
Some studies have found that bossy parenting styles can make kids more likely to procrastinate, while other research has linked feeling insecure in relationships and having low self-confidence with putting things off.
Yassin highlighted that individuals with insecure attachments often suffer from low self-esteem and anxiety about underperformance or making errors, leading them to avoid tasks altogether. She cautioned: “They may also see tasks relating to themselves (such as schoolwork) as unimportant and de-prioritise them.”
For parents concerned about their children’s tendency to procrastinate, the expert conceded that the appropriate assistance will vary from person to person. Yassin outlined some of the more prevalent strategies to break the negative cycle, such as cognitive behavioural interventions or acceptance-commitment therapy.
She added: “Sometimes procrastination is driven by ongoing parental pressure or expectations that can induce anxiety and stress. In these instances, family therapy and other interventions can aid parents and youngsters in establishing healthy behavioural dynamics that foster high self-esteem and self-efficacy. Therapeutic methods including group therapy sessions can also tackle insecure attachment styles and childhood experiences that might contribute to procrastination.”
