The Effect of Procrastination and Affect Control in Predicting Interpersonal Reactivity of Elderly People

The purpose of the study was to determine the role of procrastination and affect control in predicting the interpersonal reactivity.

This is a descriptive research of correlation type. Statistical sample included all retired elderly people of Sari, Iran. 220 subjects (114 women, 106 men) were selected by available sampling. Data were collected by General Procrastination Scale, Affect Control Scale and Interpersonal Reactivity Index.

Results showed that there’s a significant correlation between interpersonal reactivity with procrastination (r= -33), affect control (r= 53), anxiety (r= 42) and positive effect (r= 25). The results of regression analysis test showed that depression, anxiety and procrastination can predict the changes of perspective-taking significantly. Moreover, anxiety and positive affect can predict fantasy significantly; anger and anxiety can predict emphatic concern negatively and positively, respectively; moreover, anger can predict personal distress positively. In general, anxiety, positive affect and procrastination can explain 28 percent of the variance of elderly people’s interpersonal reactivity.

We can improve elderly people’s interpersonal relations and consequently their lives and health by training strategies to cope with procrastination and also affect control training.