{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "id": "woop-mcii-academic-procrastination-rct-2026",
  "canonical_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/woop-mcii-academic-procrastination-rct-2026/",
  "json_url": "https://brali-lifeos.github.io/evidence/woop-mcii-academic-procrastination-rct-2026/index.json",
  "decision": "support-existing",
  "decision_label": "Supports existing guidance",
  "reviewed_at": "2026-09-09",
  "reviewed_by": "Brali Evidence Reviewer",
  "source": {
    "title": "Beyond positive thinking: A randomized trial of mental contrasting with implementation intentions to curb academic procrastination",
    "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41601124/",
    "type": "randomized-controlled-trial",
    "doi": "10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.106168",
    "citation_text": "Zhou X, Wider W, Wu H, Xu Y, Qin M, Borromeo AS. Acta Psychologica. 2026;262:106168.",
    "study_design": "Randomized controlled comparison of MCII with a positive-thinking strategy control. The study randomized 101 eligible students; 20 were excluded during the seven-day reporting period for missing reports or intervention nonadherence, leaving 81 in the final sample. Outcomes were measured through pre-test, post-test, seven-day diaries and a one-week follow-up.",
    "population": "101 eligible first-year undergraduate students at one private Chinese university were randomized; 81 remained in the final analyzed sample after 19.8% attrition.",
    "intervention_or_exposure": "MCII applied to academic procrastination compared with a positive-thinking strategy control.",
    "outcomes": [
      "Task aversiveness",
      "Outcome utility",
      "Willingness to initiate academic tasks",
      "Diary-based task initiation"
    ]
  },
  "supported_claim": "In this specific undergraduate academic-procrastination study, MCII reduced task aversiveness and improved willingness to initiate academic tasks relative to a positive-thinking control, with effects reported through one-week follow-up. Diary reports also provided a behavioral task-initiation signal. It provides narrow corroborating evidence for the obstacle-plus-plan mechanism in an academic setting.",
  "unsupported_or_overstated_claims": [
    "This trial proves WOOP works for all goals or populations.",
    "The trial establishes long-term goal achievement effects.",
    "The results generalize to workplaces, clinical populations or high-stakes decisions.",
    "WOOP eliminates procrastination.",
    "A one-week follow-up establishes durable behavior change."
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "The study was single-site and restricted to first-year undergraduates at one private Chinese university.",
    "Twenty of 101 randomized participants were excluded for missing reports or intervention nonadherence, leaving 81 in the final sample (19.8% attrition).",
    "The main psychological outcomes were self-reported; task initiation was derived from participant diary reports rather than an objective academic-performance endpoint.",
    "The context was academic procrastination rather than general goal pursuit.",
    "The follow-up was one week, so long-term persistence is unknown.",
    "The study does not justify generalizing to broad life outcomes, workplaces, clinical treatment, or safety-critical decisions."
  ],
  "target_hack_ids": [
    "woop-goal-planner"
  ],
  "target_protocol_ids": [
    "brali:woop-goal-planner"
  ],
  "risk_flags": [
    "mental-health"
  ],
  "notes": "Use as corroborating boundary evidence only. Reuse the existing research-candidate identity; do not turn this narrow RCT into the primary public claim or imply cross-domain efficacy."
}