Objective  To explore the role of general self-efficacy of college students in academic procrastination and its mechanism. Methods  A total of 278 college students were tested by the simple procrastination assessment scale-students (PASS)，general self-efficacy scale (GSES)，and proactive personality questionnaire. Results  ① In college students，male students got higher scores in general self-efficacy and proactive personality than female students. ② Academic procrastination had a significantly negative correlation with general self-efficacy and proactive personality. Proactive personality played a completely mediating effect role in the relationship between general self-efficacy and academic procrastination. Conclusion  General self-efficacy affects academic procrastination through the mediating variable of proactive personality.