INTERNET USE AND SLEEP QUALITY AS PREDICTORS OF ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MKAR, MKAR, NIGERIA

Abstract

Academic procrastination is the voluntary delay of academic tasks despite the potential for adverse consequences, a phenomenon widespread among university students and often linked to poor academic performance and psychological distress. While prior research has independently associated academic procrastination with internet use and sleep quality, few studies have examined their combined predictive role, particularly in under-researched regions such as North-Central Nigeria. This study investigated internet use and sleep quality as predictors of academic procrastination among 220 undergraduate students (males = 89, females = 131) from the University of Mkar, Mkar, using a cross-sectional survey design. Participants completed the Internet Addiction Test, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Academic Procrastination Scale. Results revealed significant positive correlations between internet use and procrastination (r = 0.219, p = 0.001) and between sleep quality and academic procrastination (r = 0.276, p = 0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, internet use and sleep quality jointly accounted for 5.7% of the variance in academic procrastination, with internet use emerging as a significant individual predictor (β = 0.211, p = 0.002). In contrast, sleep quality did not retain significance when controlled (β = .097, p > .05). The findings highlight the role of internet engagement as an important behavioural factor in academic procrastination and suggest that sleep quality may function indirectly. Practical implications include integrating digital discipline and time management training into university support systems to mitigate procrastination.

 Keywords: academic procrastination, internet use, sleep quality, undergraduates, Nigeria,