Why making plans to study for your exams could be harmful: The relationship between making aversive plans, agency and wellbeing, and the moderating role of perfectionism

Abstract

When you have a lot of tasks to do, planning them out seems like a very logical decision. This paper is focused on the possible negative effects of making aversive plans. The study is focused on exploring the relationship between making aversive plans, agency, and wellbeing, and the moderating role of perfectionism. 212 participants were recruited for our study. Our hypothesis that making aversive plans had a negative effect on wellbeing was not supported. However, we did find that people that thought of a fun plan, had higher feelings of agency than those who thought of an aversive plan. We also found significant results for the effect of agency on wellbeing. Higher feelings of agency predicted a more positive body image and better psychological wellbeing, as well as less psychosomatic symptoms and lower life stress. Lastly, we found no support for a moderating role of perfectionism.