Pure Procrastination Scale

The Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) is a validated clinical instrument designed to assess the severity and functional impact of procrastination.

Questions: 11
Duration: 3 min
Original title: Pure Procrastination Scale
Adaptation: Pure Procrastination Scale
Authors: Steel, P.
Created: 2010

The Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) is a validated clinical instrument designed to assess the severity and functional impact of procrastination. Developed by Piers Steel in 2010 and refined into an 11-item version, the scale synthesizes the most robust items from previous measures to capture procrastination as a multidimensional construct. It goes beyond simple task delay, evaluating both the internal decision-making struggles and the observable difficulties in meeting deadlines that characterize chronic procrastinators.

For mental health professionals, the PPS provides a standardized metric to track confronting avoidance and task initiation over the course of treatment. It is particularly valuable when working with adults who experience significant impairment due to excessive screen time, chronic indecision, or perfectionism. Because procrastination is a transdiagnostic symptom often linked to anxiety, ADHD, or depressive states, tracking this specific behavior can guide interventions aimed at building adaptive coping and better emotional regulation.

Example result

Fictitious result, computed from a sample set of answers.

Overall score

31/ 55

The Pure Procrastination Scale (PPS) is a brief self-report questionnaire designed by Steel (2010) to assess procrastination conceptualized as a dysfunctional and irrational delay. It integrates items from three historical scales (Decisional Procrastination Questionnaire, General Procrastination Scale, Adult Inventory of Procrastination) and covers three facets of procrastination: decisional delay, implemental delay, and timeliness. The French version validated by Rebetez, Rochat, Gay, and Van der Linden (2014) comprises 11 items (the original item 12 was removed due to a lack of face validity) and is structured around two subfactors ("voluntary delay" and "observed delay") subordinate to a general procrastination factor. Useful for screening, baseline assessment, and monitoring of procrastination in older adolescents and adults, in both clinical and research settings.

11–27

Non-problematic procrastination

28–39

Moderate procrastination

40–55

High level of procrastination

généralemixed · general population · French-speaking general population (78% employed, French validation) · 18–69 years · Switzerland · n = 245 · 2014 · Rebetez et al. (2014)

1155

M = 29.3 ± 8.3

Scoring

Sum (or mean) of items; subscale scores, total score from 11 to 55, each item is rated on a 5-point scale (from 1 to 5).

Observed delay

10/ 15

Perception of running out of time and finishing in a state of urgency.

items 9, 10, 11

généralemixed · general population · French-speaking general population (78% employed, French validation) · 18–69 years · Switzerland · n = 245 · 2014 · Rebetez et al. (2014)

315

M = 7.1 ± 2.6

Voluntary delay

21/ 40

Tendency to voluntarily postpone actions and decisions.

items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

généralemixed · general population · French-speaking general population (78% employed, French validation) · 18–69 years · Switzerland · n = 245 · 2014 · Rebetez et al. (2014)

840

M = 22.2 ± 6.6

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What the test measures

The Pure Procrastination Scale measures the core behavioral and temporal features of chronic procrastination. It evaluates the patient's tendency to unnecessarily delay decisions and actions despite anticipating negative consequences.

Decisional delay: The inability to finalize choices or delaying the commitment to a course of action, often driven by an underlying intolerance of uncertainty.
Task initiation: The struggle to begin work, often characterized by finding distractions or engaging in trivial matters instead.
Temporal observation: The concrete, observable outcome of poor time management, such as running out of time and failing to meet deadlines.

This scale is appropriate for adults and older adolescents who report significant distress or functional impairment related to task completion and time management.

When and why to use it

Clinicians typically use the Pure Procrastination Scale to establish a baseline of delaying behaviors and monitor progress throughout therapy.

Intake assessment: To quantify the severity of procrastination when a patient presents with chronic stress, academic difficulties, or occupational burnout.
Treatment monitoring: To track behavioral changes as the patient learns to stop overthinking and improves their task initiation skills over time.
Targeting interventions: To determine whether the core issue lies more in the initial decision-making phase or in the practical execution and adherence to deadlines.

By using a validated measure, clinicians gain a reliable, structured metric that tracks concrete behavioral changes, providing a clearer picture of progress than clinical impression alone.

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The questions

For each of the following statements, please indicate to what degree it applies to you: 'Very seldom or not true of me', 'Seldom true of me', 'Sometimes true of me', 'Often true of me', or 'Very often true or true of me'. You can choose only one answer for each statement.
1. I put off making decisions until it's too late.
This item assesses the tendency to postpone choices until external pressures force a resolution.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
2. Even after making a decision, I delay putting it into action.
This probes the gap between making a choice and actually taking the necessary steps to execute it.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
3. I waste a lot of time on trivial things before getting to the final decisions.
This evaluates how often the patient uses minor or irrelevant tasks as a distraction from important decisions.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
4. When an important deadline is approaching, I often waste time doing other things.
This measures the behavioral avoidance that occurs as a significant deadline approaches.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
5. I find that even tasks that require almost nothing more than sitting down and doing them are rarely done for several days.
This assesses the difficulty in initiating even simple, low-effort tasks.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
6. I often find myself doing tasks that I had intended to do several days before.
This examines the frequency of carrying out tasks long after the patient originally intended to complete them.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
7. I constantly tell myself 'I'll do it tomorrow'.
This probes the habitual cognitive rationalization of delaying work to the following day.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
8. I usually put off starting a task I have to do.
This evaluates the general friction and hesitation experienced right before commencing a required task.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
9. I often find myself running out of time.
This item measures the subjective experience of lacking sufficient time to complete obligations.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
10. I can't get things done on time.
This assesses the objective failure to finish tasks within the expected timeframe.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always
11. I'm not very good at meeting deadlines.
This evaluates the patient's self-perception regarding their ability to adhere to schedules and deadlines.
- Very rarely or not at all
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Very often or always