Post-COVID-19 Assessment of Time Management in Malaysian University Students: A Psychometric Exploration of the Time Management Behaviour (TMB)

Effective time management is crucial for students to optimize their academic performance. However, many university students struggle with inadequate time management skills, particularly in the context of the post- pandemic COVID-19 era. This study aims to address this issue by developing and validating an instrument
that examines the factors influencing students' time management skills. Drawing on the Time Management Behavior (TMB) proposed by Macon et al. (1994), this research seeks to gain deeper insights into the specific factors that contribute to effective time management in the current educational landscape. The crosssectional study collected 126 responses for a pilot study, which underwent exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using SPSS. The findings of the EFA identified six (6) items for deletion. Subsequently, 269 responses were gathered during the actual data collection phase, and the data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using AMOS. The results confirmed that the TMB instrument met the requirements for CFA and demonstrated validity in measuring university students' time management skills in the post-pandemic COVID-19 era. The TMB instrument provides valuable insights for educational institutions to support students in improving their time management skills, enabling targeted interventions for better academic outcomes and personal growth. It empowers institutions to develop effective strategies and resources to address time management challenges, ultimately promoting student success and facilitating personal and professional development.