错失恐惧与大学生社交焦虑

为了考察社交网站使用与大学生认知失败的关系,以574名大学生为被试,采用社交网站使用强度问卷、错失恐惧量表、手机成瘾倾向量表及认知失败问卷进行测试.结果发现,大学生社交网站使用强度、错失恐惧、手机依赖和认知失败彼此之间显著性相关,社交网站使用对大学生认知失败具有显著的预测作用,错失焦虑和手机依赖在社交网站使用与大学生认知失败之间具有显著的单独中介效应,也可以形成显著的链式中介效应.社交网站使用通过错失恐惧和手机依赖的序列中介路径预测大学生认知失败.

以北京、厦门、武汉等城市的584名在校大学生为被试,采用UCLA孤独感量表、错失焦虑量表、社交媒体依赖量表和睡眠拖延量表对其进行问卷调查,旨在探讨大学生孤独感和睡眠拖延的关系,并检验错失焦虑和社交媒体依赖在其中起到的链式中介作用。结果发现,孤独感显著正向预测睡眠拖延,而错失焦虑和社交媒体依赖在孤独感与睡眠拖延之间起到链式中介作用。具体而言,孤独感通过引发错失焦虑和增加社交媒体依赖,间接促进了睡眠拖延行为。错失焦虑和社交媒体依赖是孤独感影响睡眠拖延的潜在机制,为改善大学生睡眠拖延问题提供了理论参考。

With the rapid growth of internet mobile technology, recent research has increasingly focused on the mental health challenges faced by young people, particularly in relation to social media use. One significant concern is the impact of the fear of missing out (FoMO) and online social anxiety, yet the underlying mechanisms that link these factors remain largely unexplored. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the role of FoMO in predicting online social anxiety among university students, with a particular focus on understanding how irrational procrastination and media multitasking may mediate this relationship. In total, 451 university students completed a survey on demographics, FoMO, online social anxiety, irrational procrastination, and media multitasking questionnaires. After controlling for demographic variables, the findings revealed that (a) FoMO showed a significant positive correlation with online social anxiety; (b) the connection between FoMO and online social anxiety in university students was partially mediated by irrational procrastination; and (c) the connection between FoMO and online social anxiety in university students was partially mediated by media multitasking. This research contributes to the understanding of the psychological mechanisms that link FoMO to online social anxiety, offering insights that can inform interventions aimed at improving university students’ mental health in the digital age.

Background Despite the growing prevalence of internet usage among young people, the relationships between internet addiction, online social anxiety, fear of missing out (FoMO), and interpersonal sensitivity remain uncertain, intricate, and multifaceted. To gain insight into the underlying psychological mechanisms, we employed network analysis to explore the interconnections between them. This endeavor may provide fresh opportunities for intervention and treatment. Methods In this study, 470 participants were assessed at age from 18 to 22 (M = 20.18 years, SD = 1.861) years. Network analysis was used to examine the connections between symptoms, and statistical measures were applied to assess the stability of the network model. Results Online social anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity had the strongest associations with other symptoms in the network, with “Evaluation anxiety” having the highest expected influence centrality, followed by “Privacy concern anxiety,” “Need for approval,” “Suspicion,” and “vulnerability.” The FoMO symptom, “Fear of missing information,” had the strongest direct relation to internet addiction. “Evaluation anxiety” and “Fear of missing information” played a key role in bridging internet addiction and interpersonal sensitivity. Additionally, the structure distribution of edge weights had a significant difference between gender. Conclusions Our findings indicated that FoMO, interpersonal sensitivity, and online social anxiety likely play a significant role in the development and continuation of internet addiction. Interpersonal sensitivity seems to contribute to increased online social anxiety, FoMO, and the development of internet addiction, indicating that targeting these symptoms may help reduce negative online behavior and psychological burden.

Although fear of missing out (FOMO) has become a widely experienced phenomenon, the specific social situations and cognitions driving the FOMO experience have not yet been closely studied. Across seven experiments (N = 5,441), we find that FOMO occurs when people miss events involving valued social groups and is driven by the perception of missed bonding and concerns about how this may negatively affect their future relationships. People feel greater FOMO when they miss events involving valued others (vs. strangers or irrelevant social groups) and when events foster social bonding (vs. individual activity)-even when the events themselves may be unenjoyable. FOMO is further intensified when concerns about one's future social-group belonging are elevated, either stemming from situational triggers (e.g., social media photos) or one's chronic anxious attachment to their social group. Notably, these concerns are exaggerated when considering the social costs of missing an event for oneself (vs. a friend). Given the social underpinnings of FOMO, reaffirming one's social belonging by reflecting on past social connection provides temporary relief. By revealing a novel, situational antecedent of FOMO and the underlying cognitions, this research demonstrates that current well-being is informed not only by current and past feelings of belonging but also by hypothetical projections about one's future social belonging. Taken together, our findings highlight the importance of social bonding in experiential consumption, identify new determinants of FOMO, and lay the groundwork for simple interventions to mitigate FOMO and its maladaptive consequences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

… attracted to social media. Moreover, concerns that others might be having rewarding experiences that one is absent from seem to be a trigger for a compulsive use of social platforms, …

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections. We are interested in understanding the complex construct of FoMO and its relations to the need to belong and form stable interpersonal relationships. It is associated with a range of negative life experiences and feelings, due to it being considered a problematic attachment to social media. We have provided a general review of the literature and have summarized the findings in relation to mental health, social functioning, sleep, academic performance and productivity, neuro-developmental disorders, and physical well-being. We have also discussed the treatment options available for FoMo based on cognitive behavior therapy. It imperative that new findings on FoMO are communicated to the clinical community as it has diagnostic implications and could be a confounding variable in those who do not respond to treatment as usual.

“Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) is an all-consuming feeling that is associated with mental and emotional stress. Such strains are caused by a compulsive concern that one is missing an opportunity for a socially rewarding experience often spotted on social media networks. While several personality and psychological factors have been empirically validated as correlated with FOMO, so far, little research has examined the effects of perceived group centrality (i.e., the extent to which group members feel included in the group) and fear of social exclusion on FOMO. Therefore, this study is aimed at examining the mechanism that links these socially driven factors and the need to belong with social media use and, consequently, FOMO, using structural equation modeling. A total of 490 college students ( mean   age = 20.56 , SD = 1.44 ) completed a self-reported questionnaire that included measures of FOMO, the need to belong, social media use, perceived centrality, and fear of social exclusion. The need to belong emerged as the best predictor of FOMO, increasing it both directly and indirectly through the significant mediation of social media use. Females reported a greater need to belong and consequently more FOMO. Females also reported greater use of social media and greater perceived group centrality. Perceived centrality increased FOMO through social media use, but this indirect effect was not significant.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether fear of missing out (FoMO) mediate relations between social self-efficacy and life satisfaction among undergraduates. The participants involved 323 undergraduates (female, 66.3%; male, 33.7%). The age of participants ranged between 18 and 32 years (M = 21.52, SD = 2.69). The study data was gathered using the Fear of Missing out Scale, the Social Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectation Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The research data were analyzed using the structural equation model and bootstrapping method. As a result of the structural equation model, FoMO mediates the relationship between social self-efficacy and life satisfaction. As a result of the bootstrapping analysis, it was seen that all direct and indirect effects are significant. The results, recommendations, and limitations of the study were discussed.

PurposeResearch examining the “fear of missing out” (FoMO) is increasingly prominent, with a growing number of studies exploring this phenomenon. Despite the increased academic interest, no attempts have been made to synthesize extant knowledge on FoMO. There is limited holistic understanding of its conceptualization and operationalization. To address this gap, an exhaustive systematic literature review (SLR) on FoMO is presented.Design/methodology/approachSystematic review protocols and content analysis was used to analyze and synthesize insights from 58 empirical studies obtained from four academic databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and PsycINFO.FindingsSignificant diversity in prior research on FoMO was encapsulated in four themes. There are significant limitations in conceptualization of FoMO, along with narrow focus on geographic, methodological and contextual foci of prior studies. The authors propose a comprehensive framework and extensive gap-specific research directions to aid future research.Research limitations/implicationsThe SLR is limited in its consideration of empirical studies published in academic journal articles obtained from four databases.Social implicationsThe authors imply the critical need to ascertain motives for individuals' excessive engagement with social media and the subsequent impact on well-being indicators (e.g. sleep quality) and functional impairments (e.g. addiction).Originality/valueThis study magnifies and expands the intellectual boundaries of FoMO and suggests the adoption of a multidisciplinary perspective for further investigation. The use of novel theoretical lenses can further ascertain FoMO's effect on different cultures and social media users.

… With increased, dysregulated social media use, individuals may become engrossed in the lives of other users and fear missing out on the types of experiences other users are …

… ) in helicopter parenting, FOMO, and social anxiety would be in … to decreasing trajectories in FOMO and social anxiety) (H2). … The short form of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-6…

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Objective To explore the mechanisms by which social media use affects academic performance among college students, examining the chain mediation effects of social anxiety and fear of missing out (FoMO), as well as the moderating role of teacher-student relationships. Methods Using stratified cluster sampling, questionnaire data were collected from 3,716 Chinese undergraduate students aged 18–24. The questionnaires measured social media usage frequency, social anxiety, FoMO, teacher-student relationships, and academic performance. Scale reliability and validity were first examined through confirmatory factor analysis, followed by structural equation modeling to assess chain mediation effects. The moderating effect of teacher-student relationships was tested using the PROCESS Model 14 framework. Results Social media use had a significant negative direct effect on college students’ academic performance. Social anxiety and FoMO served as significant mediators in this relationship. Teacher-student relationships significantly moderated the negative effect of FoMO on academic performance. Conclusion High-frequency social media use among college students undermines academic performance through an emotional pathway whereby social anxiety leads to increased FoMO. Strong teacher-student relationships can function as an emotional regulatory mechanism, significantly reducing this adverse impact.

Recent research has identified various risk factors for fear of missing out. However, studies on the potential influence of childhood trauma on the fear of missing out remain scarce, and little is known regarding the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. In this study, we examine the predictive role of childhood trauma on the fear of missing out among college students and investigate whether neuroticism and social anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out. A sample of 1,266 Chinese college students completed questionnaires regarding childhood trauma, neuroticism, social anxiety, and the fear of missing out. The results indicated that (a) childhood trauma is positively associated with the fear of missing out, (b) both neuroticism and social anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out, and (c) neuroticism and social anxiety sequentially mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and the fear of missing out. These findings have crucial implications for the prevention and intervention of the fear of missing out among college students.

This study investigates the direct and indirect relationships between social isolation and social media addiction among Chinese university students, with social anxiety and fear of missing out as serial mediators in the digital era. A convenience sample of students from eight universities in China was recruited. A total of 1,000 self report questionnaires were distributed via digital platforms including email, WeChat, and QQ between December 1 and 6, 2025. In total, 732 valid responses were obtained (female 454, male 278). Hypotheses were tested in SPSS and SmartPLS through three stages: (1) descriptive analysis, (2) confirmatory factor analysis, and (3) structural model evaluation. SI is not directly associated with SMA but shows an indirect association with SMA through FoMO, including a significant sequential association via SA and FoMO. SA is not directly associated with SMA and does not function as a simple mediator between SI and SMA. SI is positively associated with SA and FoMO, SA is positively associated with FoMO, and FoMO is positively associated with SMA. By examining potential intra-psychological associations between social isolation and social media addiction, this study advances the compensatory internet use theory and the cognitive activation theory of stress. The findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of this relationship and could guide preventive strategies and educational initiatives that foster healthier engagement with social media among university students.

… relationships among GD, social anxiety, FoMO, resilience, … emotion (eg, social anxiety and FoMO), enhancing resilience, … Higher total scale scores represent higher level of FoMO. …

ABSTRACT Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a prevalent phenomenon associated with a range of mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety. To our knowledge, the question of whether FoMO can be explained by other well-known mechanistic variables—namely, loneliness, rumination, and anxiety sensitivity (AS) – has not been previously evaluated. The current study investigated the predictive power of loneliness, rumination, and AS for explaining variance in FoMO within two independent samples of undergraduate students at a large Northeastern university. Participants completed an online battery of questionnaires. In Study 1, it was found that loneliness and rumination offered significant prediction of FoMO when AS was not considered in the model; however, when these three predictors were considered together, only AS offered significant, non-redundant prediction. Study 2 revealed that both rumination and AS offered significant prediction of FoMO, with AS offering stronger unique prediction. Such findings provide a new frame for understanding the nature of the relatively new concept of FoMO, and in particular, suggest that it may be important to consider AS and rumination in future studies.

Background and aims With the ubiquity of the internet, social media have become an essential part of daily life. There are various types of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, WeChat and SNS. Social media addiction (SMA) was found to be significantly associated with mental health concerns, self-esteem, fear of missing out (FoMO), and loneliness on the basis of a literature review concerning SMA. To further explore the connections between SMA and anxiety, depression, self-esteem, FoMO and loneliness, we performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively synthesize the previous findings, Methods The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM) and Technology Journal Database (VIP) databases were accessed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. This search was updated in April. Pooled Pearson’s correlation coefficients between SMA and anxiety, depression, loneliness, FoMO and self-esteem were calculated with STATA software via a random or fixed effects model. Results Thirty-two studies involving a total of 26166 students were identified. The meta-analysis revealed positive correlations between SMA and anxiety, depression, loneliness and FoMO (anxiety: summary r = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.25–0.36, P < 0.001; depression: summary r = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.27–0.34, P < 0.001; loneliness: summary r = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.13–0.29, P < 0.001; FoMO: summary r = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.36–0.45, P < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between self-esteem and SMA (self-esteem: summary r = -0.24, 95% Cl = -0.26– -0.22, P<0.001). Conclusions This meta-analysis revealed that SMA was positively associated with anxiety, depression and loneliness but negatively associated with self-esteem. These findings indicate that students with SMA are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and loneliness. Conducting larger prospective studies would be beneficial to verify our findings.

Internet addiction has garnered attention owing to its psychological, social, and intellectual repercussions on individuals. Individuals exhibiting problematic and excessive Internet usage often participate in online activities, potentially leading to the development of addictive behaviours over time. Online actions are believed to stem from social interaction anxiety related to the pursuit of connection and acceptance, as well as the fear of missing out on social advancements. Given the detrimental consequences of Internet addiction on individuals, it is crucial to comprehend the associated elements. This research investigated the regression-based mediation role of fear of missing out in the relationship between social interaction anxiety and Internet addiction among university students. A sample of 301 Turkish university students in medical and health sciences from a public university (62.8% females; M = 21.61 years, SD = 2.01, age range = 18-39) participated in an online survey via the Google Forms platform. This study utilised the Turkish adaptations of the original Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, and Fear of Missing Out Scale. The model findings indicated that social interaction anxiety exerts both a direct and an indirect influence on Internet addiction. Furthermore, fear of missing out was identified as a partial mediator in the link between social interaction anxiety and Internet addiction. These findings emphasise the importance of focusing on social interaction anxiety and fear of missing out in interventions to reduce Internet addiction.

Purpose This study aims to clarify the effects of different patterns of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram usage on user loneliness and well-being in Japan. Design/methodology/approach Based on responses to a self-report questionnaire in Japan, 155 university students were separated into 4 groups: users of Twitter only, users of Twitter and Facebook, users of Twitter and Instagram and users of all three social media. The effects of social media usage on loneliness and well-being for each group were analysed. Findings No social media usage effects on loneliness or well-being were detected for those who used only Twitter or both Twitter and Instagram. For those using both Twitter and Facebook, loneliness was reduced when users accessed Twitter and Facebook more frequently but was increased when they posted more tweets. Users of all three social media were lonelier and had lower levels of well-being when they accessed Facebook via PC longer; whereas their their access time of Facebook via smartphones helped them decrease loneliness and improve their levels of well-being. Originality/value The findings reported here provide possible explanations for the conflicting results reported in previous research by exploring why users choose different social media platforms to communicate with different groups of friends or acquaintances and different usage patterns that affect their loneliness and well-being.

In a preliminary study conducted on 35 students at Universitas Negeri Semarang, it was found that a majority of respondents (97.1%) were female, aged 19-24 years. The study showed that all respondents felt entertained by the internet, with a significant portion using it as a diversion during sadness or boredom. Concerns about missing out on information online were prevalent, with many experiencing discomfort when unable to access the internet. The research aimed to explore the relationship between loneliness and the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) among these students. Utilizing a sample of 400 respondents selected through cluster random sampling, loneliness and FoMO were measured using respective scales with reliabilities of 0.755 and 0.765. Spearman's Rank correlation with SPSS 21 software revealed a significant positive correlation (r=0.311, p<0.05) between loneliness and FoMO, with both variables predominantly falling in the moderate category among the students. Abstrak: Berdasarkan studi pendahuluan yang dilakukan pada 35 mahasiswa Universitas Negeri Semarang, ditemukan bahwa sebagian besar responden (97,1%) adalah perempuan berusia 19-24 tahun. Studi tersebut menunjukkan bahwa semua responden merasa terhibur oleh internet, dengan proporsi yang signifikan menggunakannya sebagai pengalihan saat sedih atau bosan. Kekhawatiran tentang ketinggalan informasi online cukup umum, dengan banyak yang merasa tidak nyaman ketika tidak bisa mengakses internet. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi hubungan antara kesepian dan Rasa Takut Ketinggalan Informasi (Fear of Missing Out - FoMO) di antara mahasiswa tersebut. Menggunakan sampel 400 responden yang dipilih melalui sampel kluster acak, kesepian dan FoMO diukur menggunakan skala masing-masing dengan reliabilitas 0,755 dan 0,765. Korelasi Spearman's Rank dengan perangkat lunak SPSS 21 mengungkapkan korelasi positif yang signifikan (r=0,311, p<0,05) antara kesepian dan FoMO, dengan kedua variabel terutama jatuh dalam kategori sedang di antara mahasiswa.

Highlights • FoMO has been identified as a major risk factor for problematic social media use (PSMU).• State-FoMO mediated the association between trait-FoMO and PSMU.• Loneliness moderated the trait-FoMO to state-FoMO pathway.• Higher loneliness weakened the trait-FoMO and state-FoMO relationship.• Females scored higher for PSMU than males.

Early adulthood is a critical period in the development of collaborative communication skills, and management of various aspects of life, where excessive use of social media can lead to addiction with negative impacts on physical health, psychological, and interpersonal relationships. This study aims to understand the relationship between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and loneliness with the level of social media addiction in the early adult population. The type of research used is quantitative correlational. The population of this study is Sidoarjo district residents aged 20-40 years, totaling 638,097 as of July 2023. The number of samples was 348. The research sample collection technique used Incidental Sampling. The research data analysis technique was analyzed using multiple linear regression techniques. The results showed a p value of 0.001 <0.05, indicating a relationship between FOMO and loneliness with social media addiction in early adulthood.

Social media platforms, designed to facilitate connectivity, have a complex impact on psychological well-being. This study investigates the relationship between social media usage, loneliness, and the fear of missing out among young people in Slovakia, focusing on gender differences. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data was collected from 225 university students (70.2% female, 29.8% male) through the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Social Media Engagement Questionnaire (SMEQ), and the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) Scale. Statistical analyses conducted included linear regression and correlation analyses; the results showed no significant correlation between social media use and loneliness (r = 0.08, p = 0.11), although a weak to moderately strong positive correlation was found between loneliness in women and FOMO (r = 0.24, p = 0.001). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was identified between FOMO and social media use (r = 0.27, p < 0.001), with FOMO predicting increased social media engagement. The study concludes that while social media use does not directly predict loneliness, FOMO significantly influences social media engagement among young people. These findings underscore the importance of considering psychological factors like FOMO in understanding students’ social media behaviour and point to the need for gender-specific approaches to digital wellness.

… Data on Facebook addiction among Facebook users in Vietnam is … and loneliness in the association between Facebook addiction levels and depression among Vietnamese Facebook …

ABSTRACT Research findings on inter-relationships between subtypes of Problematic Internet Use with wellbeing, loneliness and Fear of Missing Out are inconsistent. The present study used psychometric assessments on the subtypes, general problematic internet use, problematic smartphone use, problematic social media use, problematic gaming, and problematic pornography use, loneliness, wellbeing and FOMO from 834 university students (mean age 22 years, 45% male) to explore these relationships in a partial correlation network and using variance partitioning. A partial correlation network provides a coherent representation of the inter-relationships between the factors in a network topology. The impacts of the relationships are quantified by variance partitioning which quantifies the unique variance explained by individual predictor variables and that explained by their overlap with other variables. The analysis suggests that gender differences exist; increased student loneliness and reduced wellbeing are linked directly to general problematic internet use, particularly for the lonely or those with reduced wellbeing and more so for males. Fear of Missing Out is linked to social media and smartphone use. Inconsistent findings in previous research may be explained by confounding variables. Educational institutions should offer support to students to develop awareness of the potential negative consequences of problematic internet use for student health.

A growing number of studies have focused on understanding the phenomenon known as Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and the factors contributing to it. This study examines the potential role of psychological variables that refer to self-evaluation in relation to others, such as social media addiction, social comparison, perfectionism, and loneliness. Hungarian university students (N = 255; 70.6 % females, aged between 18 and 35 years, Mage = 23.61 years; SD = 4.59) completed an online survey during the fall semester of the academic year 2023/2024. Based on correlation, multiple regression and path analysis, we found that social comparison was the strongest predictor of FoMO (β = 0.43, p < .001). While social media addiction (β = 0.20, p < .001), loneliness (β = 0.13, p < .01), and perfectionism (β = 0.14, p < .05) also contributed directly to FoMO, these variables also served as mediators in the link between social comparison and FoMO. These findings draw attention to the need for social skills training in which students can learn to successfully handle various social situations. In addition, mindfulness-based intervention may help them become more conscious during online activities and they can better understand the role of social comparison in concrete social situations. Developing educational materials for students to inform them about the nature of FoMO and how to manage it would also be useful to improve the users' digital resilience of users.

Objective This study employed a three-wave longitudinal design to investigate whether fear of missing out (FoMO) mediates the relationship between loneliness and social networking site (SNS) addiction, and whether this indirect pathway is moderated by the imaginary audience (IA). Methods A total of 1,337 Chinese college students (M_age = 19.86 years, SD = 1.79; 670 females) completed validated Chinese versions of measures assessing loneliness, FoMO, IA, and SNS addiction across three waves at six-month intervals. Regression-based mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0. Bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples was applied to test indirect effects, and simple slope analyses were performed for significant interactions. Results T1 loneliness was positively associated with T3 SNS addiction (β = 0.19, p < 0.001). This association operated both directly (95% CI [0.14, 0.23]) and indirectly via T2 FoMO (95% CI [0.20, 0.28]), with the indirect effect accounting for 55.81% of the total effect (95% CI [0.39, 0.47]). T3 IA moderated the link between FoMO and SNS addiction (β = −0.07, p < 0.001). Contrary to expectations, the positive association was stronger among low-IA individuals. Conclusion Interventions should target loneliness and FoMO while considering individual differences in IA.

Introduction Social media' impact on loneliness has attracted widespread scholarly attention. One hypothesis is that active social media use (ASMU) is associated with a decrease in loneliness. However, several empirical studies did not find a significant correlation between ASMU and loneliness, and ASMU may even increase loneliness. This study explored the mechanism of the double-edged sword effects of ASMU on loneliness. Methods Data were collected through convenience sampling from three universities in China. A total of 454 Chinese college social media users (Mean age 19.75 ± 1.33; 59.92% female) completed an online questionnaire. Results ASMU was positively related to interpersonal relationship satisfaction, which was negatively related to general trait-fear of missing out (FoMO) and loneliness. Further structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis showed that ASMU could negatively predict loneliness through the mediation pathways of interpersonal satisfaction and “Interpersonal satisfaction → Trait-FoMO.” At the same time, ASMU was also positively associated with online-specific state-FoMO, which was positively associated with trait-FoMO and loneliness. Further SEM analysis found no mediation effect of state-FoMO between ASMU and loneliness, but state-FoMO and traitFoMO sequentially mediate the relationship between ASMU and loneliness. Discussion This study indicates that ASMU may increase and decrease loneliness. Interpersonal satisfaction and FoMO explained the double-edged mechanism of ASMU on loneliness. These findings contribute to dialectically understanding the effectiveness of active social media use and provide theoretical guidance for promoting the beneficial aspects of social media while weakening its harmful consequences.

State-Fear of Missing Out (State-FoMO) has been rising in prevalence among Chinese university students. This study explores the relationships between university students’ State-FoMO, loneliness, and social media use, as well as the moderating role of adaptive perfectionism. Questionnaire data were collected from 1075 university students. Hierarchical regression analyses (via SPSS) were conducted to test direct effects, and the bootstrap method (via PROCESS) was used to examine the mediating role of social media use and the moderating role of adaptive perfectionism. An intervention experiment was conducted with a control group design, comprising 40 participants in each of the two experimental groups (receiving a 14-day intervention combining seven sessions of group psychological counseling—focused on trust-building, self-exploration, emotional regulation, and social skills—and daily 15-minute ICBT components) and 40 in the control group. (1) Loneliness can lead to social media use (β = 0.30, p < 0.001). (2) Social media use has a significant positive effect on State-FoMO (β = 0.46, p < 0.001). (3) Social media use partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and State-FoMO. (4) Adaptive perfectionism negatively moderated the relationship between loneliness and social media use (β=-0.11, p < 0.001). (5) Adaptive perfectionism plays a negative moderating role in the path of “loneliness, social media use, and State-FoMO.” (6) Group psychological intervention can effectively reduce students’ loneliness, thereby alleviating their social media use and State-FoMO. Lonely university students often turn to social media for emotional support, which can lead to State-FoMO. However, adaptive perfectionism can lessen the effect of loneliness on social media use and State-FoMO. ICBT-based group counseling can reduce loneliness and, consequently, social media use and State-FoMO among university students.

… We define social media FOMO as the habitual process of using social media in a way that evokes … The SMMP to address social media FOMO requires long-term monitoring of one's …

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of self-monitoring limited social media usage on psychological well-being. After completing pre-test measures, 230 undergraduate students from a large Midwestern university were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: either limit their social media usage to 30 minutes a day, or to use social media as usual. After two weeks of limiting, the self-monitored group showed significant improvements in their psychological well-being. Anxiety, depression, loneliness, fear of missing out, and negative affect decreased while positive affect increased. These results suggest that limiting social media usage may improve psychological well-being on multiple dimensions. This study is one of the first to experimentally investigate feasible alternatives to social media use abstinence or experimenter-managed limitation. Future studies could investigate motivations and mechanisms of social media use through qualitative explorations.

Generation Z, or Gen Z, refers to people born between 1995 and 2010, often known as "zoomers," the first generation to fully embrace the internet. This paper focuses on the impact of socialmedia-induced Fear ofMissing Out (FOMO) on Generation Z, blending with the characteristics of digital nativity and extensive engagement with social media platforms. Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO, was uniquely introduced in 2004 with the rise of social networking sites. It centers on anxiety and how, for Gen Z, this plays a pivotal role in making one feel absent from rewarding experiences. This study delves into the effects on mental health, psychological well-being, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. It explores social media analytics regarding usage, compulsive checking, behavioural consequences, following trends, and real-life social interactions. The findings highlight the need for strategies to mitigate FOMO's adverse effects, promoting healthier social media habits and fostering a more balanced approach to digital consumption.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of fear of missing out (FoMO) on inhibitory control in social media context. The present study used a two-choice oddball task combined with event-related potentials (ERPs) technology to measure inhibitory control. Based on the Fear of Missing Out Scale, participants with varying degrees of FoMO were recruited to complete two studies. A total of 78 participants in Study 1 completed a two-choice oddball task (stimuli “W” or “M”). The results showed that FoMO did not have a significant impact on general inhibitory control at both the behavioral and electrophysiological levels. To further examine the effect of FoMO in social media context. In Study 2, 72 participants completed a modified two-choice oddball task with three types of pictures (high and low social media-related and neutral). The behavioral results revealed that as FoMO scores increased, inhibitory control decreased. ERP analysis revealed that with higher FoMO scores, social media-related pictures elicited larger N2 amplitude and smaller P3 amplitude, but not for neutral pictures. This suggests that FoMO undermines inhibitory control by consuming more cognitive resources in the early conflict detection stage and leading to insufficient cognitive resources in the later stages of the inhibitory process. These findings suggest that FoMO can undermine inhibitory control in the social media context. Considering the indispensable use of social media in the digital age, addressing and understanding the influence of FoMO on inhibitory control could be essential for promoting healthy digital behaviors and cognitive functions.

Abstract Social media use is prolific, as are attendant feelings of a fear of missing out (FoMO) for many users when they are not active on such platforms. Previous research has linked FoMO to increased social media usage; however, the reasons for this relationship remain unclear. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to explore perceptions of social media-related FoMO and how these elements align with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 young adults, aged between 18 to 35-years-old, who self-reported daily social media use and previous experience of social media-related FoMO. Four themes, reflecting social connection and esteem needs, were identified, including: (1) Feeling socially connected; (2) Staying informed on relevant topics; (3) Meeting social norms and expectations; and (4) Seeking recognition and validation. Social media appears to cultivate, as well as exacerbate, existing FoMO by distorting perceptions of real-life needs fulfilment and promoting comparisons with others, creating illusions of connection, equating online validation with self-worth, and establishing unrealistic social norms. For example, participants reported feeling FoMO for events and activities they saw others engaging in online, even when they could recall having recent similar experiences and rationalise that they were not objectively missing out. These findings highlight the impact of social media in contributing to mental health. Future research into how users can be better protected against harmful outcomes is warranted, as is investigation into how social media may help or hinder people from fulfilling the needs necessary for human growth and well-being.

… social media users has received widespread attention. However, the neural correlates of problematic social media … -occurrence of the fear of missing out (FoMO) with social media use is …

… social media to “feed their egos.” The present research, however, finds that self-centred individuals use social media to assuage their fear of missing out (FOMO) … approach social media …

… through which online social achievement goals influence social media interference via FoMO. Interference will be positively related to the time spent on social media (Bányai et al., 2017…

This systematic literature review explores the intricate relationship between social media use, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and the psychological and social well-being of Generation Z. An extensive initial search yielded 415 documents, which were meticulously screened based on relevance and quality, resulting in a final selection of 29 studies from diverse countries and contexts. The review highlights prevalent patterns, including the strong association between FoMO and increased social media engagement, heightened anxiety, social comparison tendencies, and adverse mental health outcomes among adolescents. It also identifies research gaps such as a limited number of longitudinal investigations, insufficient exploration of cultural or demographic differences, and a lack of consensus on causality and underlying mechanisms. By synthesizing contemporary evidence from various nations, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on social media’s impact on FoMO and youth well-being. Its contribution lies in offering a consolidated understanding of existing knowledge, thereby informing future investigations aimed at addressing critical gaps in the field.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) has become a widely recognized term, or rather, an extremely popular hashtag, within digital ecosystems and beyond. Young people primarily use FoMO to describe the anxiety of being left out. Few studies, particularly in psychology, have examined this form of anxiety, and even fewer sociological studies have analyzed it as a social phenomenon. The narrative, the storytelling, and the way this anxiety is conveyed on social media, especially on TikTok, can be highly relevant for understanding young people. This article explores, within the TikTok landscape, the narratives and representations of these anxieties that have gone viral on social platforms. What imagery surrounds these social anxieties, and, above all, what are the socially shared symptoms of FoMO, FoBO, and Fear of Being Seen? Through digital ethnography on TikTok, using hashtags such as FoMO and related terms, it was possible to map and interpret the characteristics of these Global Social Anxieties. TikTok was selected as the focus of analysis because it is the primary site where FOMO related narratives are actively produced and circulated. Its algorithmic design, which prioritizes engagement and performative content, further facilitated the identification and selection of relevant videos for this study. The study takes an exploratory approach to the phenomenon. Notably, there appear to be no differences in terms of location or language: videos produced by Italian creators are essentially identical to those in English, Spanish, and other languages. This phenomenon requires serious attention, as it represents a socially shared emotional state, particularly at the global level.

Purpose With the rapid improvement in digital infrastructure, the popularity of digital devices and smartphones in every pocket, the yearning to stay connected with others has increased manifold, especially in youngsters. This has raised multiple concerns primarily related to the problematic usage of the internet (PUI). The current research study aims to scrutinize the association between PUI, psychological and mental health (PMH), social media fatigue (SMF), fear of missing out (FOMO), desire to disconnect (DD) and its relation with a novel phenomenon of joy of missing out (JOMO). Design/methodology/approach The present research study embraces the empirical research method through quantitative analysis. The proposed theoretical model was empirically tested using primary data, collected through a self-designed structured questionnaire. The study sample included individuals between 16 and 39 years of age as these are the most active demographics on social media. The model is empirically tested with the help of structural equation modeling applied using software IBM AMOS 20.0 and SPSS 22.0. Initially, first-order confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, to measure and test the fit indices of the proposed model. Secondly, path analysis using structural equation modeling was carried out for the model. Findings Empirical synthesis of this research shows that PUI significantly and positively impacts mental and psychological health, FOMO and SMF. Also, SMF significantly and positively affects the DD which significantly and positively affects the JOMO. However, as depicted by the results of this study, FOMO have no considerable impact on SMF. Originality/value A study that connects the PUI with PMH, SMF and FOMO is rare to find. Second, this study uses data collected from social media users of India in the age group of 16–39 years. This slice of the population is most active in internet, and internet-enabled platform and are scantly studied, especially in the Indian context. This makes the study more exciting and crucial.

… Social media, including platforms such as Instagram or WeChat, has transformed several … social interaction towards disrupted attentional patterns. Here, we explored how social media …

BACKGROUND Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) stems from an unmet need to belong and often manifests as compulsive social media monitoring. Core interactions on social media rely on social feedback: these social rewards both satisfy the need to belong and have been shown to recruit reward circuitry. However, it remains unclear whether individuals with high FoMO exhibit unique neural processing patterns when encountering such social feedback. METHODS This study employed a social incentive delay task (SIDT) and event-related potential (ERP) technique to investigate this question. Sixty-seven university students were divided into a high-FoMO group (n = 32) and a low-FoMO group (n = 35) based on FoMO scores. Participants completed the SIDT while EEG was recorded, focusing on two outcome-related ERP components: feedback-related negativity (FRN) and P300. RESULTS There were no significant group differences in FRN amplitudes. However, a significant interaction between group and feedback valence was observed for the P300 component (p = .003): when receiving positive social feedback, the high-FoMO group showed larger P300 amplitudes than the low-FoMO group, whereas no such differences were found for negative or neutral feedback. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that individuals with high FoMO exhibit neural hypersensitivity to positive social feedback, indicating greater motivational salience and attentional allocation toward social approval cues. Such enhanced neural responsivity may constitute a potential risk marker for problematic social media use.

The majority of research on the fear of missing out (FOMO) has focused on understanding how social media posts about attractive unattended experiences taking place in the physical world (e.g., a friend’s vacation) influence individuals’ affective states. With quarantine measures in place, and in the absence of travel and party photos on social media, do individuals feel they are missing out on enjoyable experiences? The current work shows that FOMO has not disappeared during the pandemic, even when socially distancing at home, but has been replaced by feelings towards new online activities (e.g., online concerts, virtual gatherings). As a consequence, we find that FOMO threatens well-being by causing important psychological and health issues, such as sleep deprivation, loss of focus, declined productivity, and finding relief in knowing that others have difficulty keeping up with abundant digital content. Importantly, we find these consequential effects both during the initial (May 2020) and late stages (December 2020) of the pandemic. With excessive Internet use and virtual FOMO likely to be a continuing reality of life, questions remain as to how one can refrain from its negative effects and stay healthy during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic era. We discuss remedies and suggest new research avenues that may help elevate the negative consequences of FOMO on well-being.

FoMO stands for "Fear of Missing Out", and it was found that greater FoMO reported a high level of depression and anxiety. Results from this cross-sectional study revealed that the majority of the participants had a low level of FoMO and normally scored on depression and anxiety. A significant positive relationship was found between FoMO and psychological variables, and the results also highlighted considerable gender differences in the prevalence of FoMO. Findings may provide insight and further understanding about this phenomenon and how FoMO is not only fulfilling the relatedness needs but also leading to psychological distress. Keywords: fear of missing out, depression, anxiety, university students eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i20.3358

… media can cause FoMO (Walotek-Ściańska 2017; Wojciechowski and Babjaková 2015). This study used the term FoMO to describe the situation where a student cannot resist using …

Smartphone addiction (SA) has become a pervasive issue among university students. Therefore, it is important to better understand the conditions under which SA develops. Previous studies indicate that fear of missing out (FoMO), a psychological barrier to behavioural self‐regulation, is often associated with SA risk. In the pedagogical context, poor self‐regulation may manifest as lack of self‐regulated learning skills (SRLSs), which may, in turn, be associated with the adoption of a superficial approach to learning tasks. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine and model the associations between deep and surface learning approaches, SRLSs, SA and FoMO among university students. The sample comprised 687 university students, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that SLRSs were positively associated with deep learning, and negatively associated with surface learning. It was also shown that higher SRLSs were associated with lower risk of FoMO and SA. However, while SRLSs may help reduce the level of SA among surface learners by helping them overcome FoMO, the same may not be said for students with a deep learning approach, whose reduced risk of SA due to higher SRLSs was not explained through FoMO. Based on the findings, interventions that aim to improve SRLSs appear warranted, as these may help reduce SA. What is already known about this topic Fear of missing out (FoMO) is commonly associated with smartphone addiction (SA) risk. Smartphone notifications disrupt the learning activities of surface learners and FoMO may be the reason. FoMO is considered to be a challenge for behavioural self‐regulation. What this paper adds Higher levels of self‐regulated learning skills (SRLSs) are associated with deeper approaches to learning. Although a deeper approach to learning is associated with lower SA risk, a reduction in FoMO is irrelevant in explaining this effect. As far as surface learners are concerned, better SRLSs are associated with FoMO but are not associated with lower SA risk. Implications for practice and/or policy For deep learners, interventions that support the development of SRLSs are advised because these are important not only for fostering a deep approach to learning but also for helping reduce the risk of SA. Further research is necessary to identify the underlying mechanism by which improved SRLSs are associated with lower SA risk among deep learners. Further research is necessary to identify factors other than FoMO that may be associated with SA risk among surface learners.

Aims Nomophobia, defined as the fear of being without one's mobile phone, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) are on the rise and are thought to be linked to increased mental health problems. In the information era, being separated from smartphones may cause anxiety, while the expectation of continuous updates on social media may increase feelings of inadequacy and distress when comparing one's life with selected highlights of others. The extent of nomophobia and FOMO in the Middle East and whether these experiences are associated with psychiatric disorders are yet to be ascertained. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of nomophobia and FOMO among university students in the UAE and the relationship between these phenomena and depression, anxiety and stress levels. Methods 232 female and 103 male undergraduate students in four Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman) took part in the study. An online questionnaire was developed and piloted. Nomophobia and FOMO were measured using validated questionnaires, namely NMP-Q and FoMOs. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the DASS-21 scale. Data were analysed using SPSS 22. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results The data revealed that 28.6% of respondents exhibited severe, 47.7% moderate, and 23.7% mild nomophobia symptoms. 52.5% of participants reported moderate to extreme fear that others have more rewarding experiences than them, with the median FoMO score being (25.62). Higher nomophobia, stress, anxiety, and depression levels correlated with elevated FOMO scores (p < 0.001). Variations in FOMO scores were noted across university, gender, and college. Strong associations existed between severe nomophobia and heightened stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.001). The findings underscored contextual influences on nomophobia intensity among diverse individuals. Conclusion The study identified a high prevalence of nomophobia and FOMO among UAE university students. Significant correlations were observed between these digital-related fears and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress. Our results delineate the necessity for exploring and implementing interventions that address smartphone-related phobias to safeguard the mental well-being of UAE university students, considering their unique cultural context.

… This study aims to investigate the impact of FoMO on the psychological well-being of 500 students working at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Campus, through regression analysis. As a …

This paper reports a two-part study examining the relationship between fear of missing out (FoMO) and maladaptive behaviors in college students. This project used a cross-sectional study to examine whether college student FoMO predicts maladaptive behaviors across a range of domains (e.g., alcohol and drug use, academic misconduct, illegal behavior). Participants (N = 472) completed hard copy questionnaire packets assessing trait FoMO levels and questions pertaining to unethical and illegal behavior while in college. Part 1 utilized traditional statistical analyses (i.e., hierarchical regression modeling) to identify any relationships between FoMO, demographic variables (socioeconomic status, living situation, and gender) and the behavioral outcomes of interest. Part 2 looked to quantify the predictive power of FoMO, and demographic variables used in Part 1 through the convergent approach of supervised machine learning. Results from Part 1 indicate that college student FoMO is indeed related to many diverse maladaptive behaviors spanning the legal and illegal spectrum. Part 2, using various techniques such as recursive feature elimination (RFE) and principal component analysis (PCA) and models such as logistic regression, random forest, and Support Vector Machine (SVM), showcased the predictive power of implementing machine learning. Class membership for these behaviors (offender vs. non-offender) was predicted at rates well above baseline (e.g., 50% at baseline vs 87% accuracy for academic misconduct with just three input variables). This study demonstrated FoMO’s relationships with these behaviors as well as how machine learning can provide additional predictive insights that would not be possible through inferential statistical modeling approaches typically employed in psychology, and more broadly, the social sciences. Research in the social sciences stands to gain from regularly utilizing the more traditional statistical approaches in tandem with machine learning.

PurposeRecently, online learning and online environments have become even more important. Students' engagement, fear of missing out and Internet addiction are seen as interrelated components that affect students' online teaching and learning process. In this context, university students' engagement, fear of missing out and Internet addiction in online environments, the relationship among them and students' demographic characteristics, online environment usage status and Internet usage profiles as their predictors are examined in this study.Design/methodology/approachThis is a relational study and is carried out with 179 university students. Personal information form, student's engagement, fear of missing out and Internet addiction scales were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation, hierarchical linear multiple regression analysis are used for the analysis.FindingsAccording to the results, variables related to students' demographic characteristics, online environment usage status and Internet usage profiles together significantly predict the students' engagement, fear of missing out and Internet addiction in online environments. When students think positively about taking courses online, their engagement increases accordingly and their fear of missing out levels decrease. Increase in student's academic achievement leads to decline in Internet addiction.Practical implicationsIn practice, examining the related variables about students in terms of engagement to the learning environment, fear of missing out and Internet addiction could bring a new perspective to studies on problematic use of the Internet and technology such as nomophobia and digital distraction. The results of this study reveal how and which components to be focused on for increasing the university students' engagement, reducing Internet addiction and fear of missing out in online learning environments.Originality/valueThe findings of this study provide a versatile perspective with the variables of student participation, fear of missing out, Internet addiction and their predictors in online learning environments, which are becoming widespread and increasingly important today and shed light on future researches.

… The aim of the study was to investigate the mediating role of the fear of missing out (FoMO) … (PSU) among Italian university students. This study involved 405 students (mean age 22.11 …

Introduction This article examines mediators and moderators that may explain the link between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior using a sample of 794 university students. Methods A mediation model was tested to test the hypothesis that social comparison orientation and fear of missing out would mediate the link between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior. Additionally, a moderated mediation model was leveraged to examine loneliness as a moderator within the hypothesized model. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. Results and Discussion The findings show a significant positive relationship between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior. The findings confirm the hypothesized associations and reveal that smartphone addiction is positively linked to phubbing behavior. The link, on the other hand, is partially and sequentially mediated by the fear of missing out and social comparison orientation. As a result, both mediators might be regarded as proximal variables of phubbing behavior. Moreover, the associations between both smart addiction and phubbing behaviors as well as social comparison orientation and phubbing behaviors are moderated by loneliness. These two effects were stronger for university students with high loneliness than for those with low loneliness. This study addresses a major gap in the clinical psychology literature through the attempt to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction and increased phubbing behavior among university students.

Introduction This article examines mediators and moderators that may explain the link between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior using a sample of 794 university students. Methods A mediation model was tested to test the hypothesis that social comparison orientation and fear of missing out would mediate the link between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior. Additionally, a moderated mediation model was leveraged to examine loneliness as a moderator within the hypothesized model. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. Results and Discussion The findings show a significant positive relationship between smartphone addiction and phubbing behavior. The findings confirm the hypothesized associations and reveal that smartphone addiction is positively linked to phubbing behavior. The link, on the other hand, is partially and sequentially mediated by the fear of missing out and social comparison orientation. As a result, both mediators might be regarded as proximal variables of phubbing behavior. Moreover, the associations between both smart addiction and phubbing behaviors as well as social comparison orientation and phubbing behaviors are moderated by loneliness. These two effects were stronger for university students with high loneliness than for those with low loneliness. This study addresses a major gap in the clinical psychology literature through the attempt to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction and increased phubbing behavior among university students.