The moderator role personality traits in the effect of learned helpeless on procrastination behavior

This study aimed to examine the effect of learned helplessness levels of students studying at Elazığ Fırat University on procrastination behavior and the regulatory role of personality traits of learned helplessness on procrastination behavior. Other objectives determined in line with this basic purpose are; The aim is to determine the perception levels of learned helplessness of university students, to determine the perception levels of procrastination behavior of university students, to determine the effect of learned helplessness on procrastination behavior in university students and to determine the moderating role of personality traits in the effect of learned helplessness on procrastination behavior, and is to test whether there is a significant difference in students' perceptions of the research variables in terms of demographic characteristics. Learned helplessness is defined as a person's or any living being's belief that their actions cannot influence the outcome of events, their avoidance of taking any action because they think they cannot change what is happening around them, in other words, a passive stance. The concept of procrastination is defined as delaying the task until the last moment when a person has the time to do the job. There are five basic characteristics under the name of five factor personality theory. The personality dimensions of this model are expressed as extraversion, agreeableness, self-control, emotional consistency and openness to experience. The data of the research was obtained from students studying at Elazığ Fırat University in the 2023-2024 academic year. The sample of the research consists of a total of 407 students, 209 women and 198 men, studying at Fırat University in the center of Elazığ. In this research, Personal Information Form, "General Procrastination Tendency Scale", "Learned Helplessness Scale" and "Five Factor Personality Traits Scale" were used as data collection tools. Validity and reliability studies of the data collection tools were conducted. These scales have been found to be valid and reliable. In the study, independent sample t test, ANOVA, regression test, analyzes for mediating, moderating effects were performed, and hierarchical regression analysis was performed using the Process Macro plug in SPSS. As a result of the regression analysis, it was seen that learned helplessness had a positive and significant effect on procrastination behavior. As learned helplessness increases, procrastination behavior also increases. It has been determined that the personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, and self-control have a negative regulatory role on students' procrastination behavior, while the personality traits of emotional consistency and openness to experience have no role. Key Words: Learned Helplessness, Procrastination Behavior, Five Factor Personality Traits