Fear of Missing Out and its impact: exploring relationships with social media use, psychological well-being, and academic performance among university students.

Introduction Recent research reveals significant impacts of social media use on students’ sleep patterns and quality. Many young adults stay up late engaging with social media, affecting their physical and mental health, and academic performance. Frequent social media use is associated with delayed bedtimes, difficulties falling asleep, shorter sleep duration, and poorer sleep quality. Female college students who spend more time on social media report higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to males. However, less is known about how social media use may directly or indirectly impact sleep differentially by gender. Methods Survey data was collected from four cross-sectional cohorts of college students from Psychology classes at a large Southeastern Research University in Fall 2020 (n=589), Fall 2021 (n=323), Fall 2023 (n=698), and Spring 2024 (n=445). Participants (n=2055) received partial course credit for completing a Qualtrics survey addressing fear of missing out (FoMO), social media use frequency, anxiety, depression, perceived stress, sleep quality (PSQI), and other sleep-related questions. Results A one-way MANOVA compared differences in mental health, FoMO, sleep quality, social media use, and texting habits by sex. Women reported higher levels of FoMO, anxiety, depression, and stress than men (ps <.01). Women also checked social media more frequently and spent over 35 minutes more per day on social media. Sleep satisfaction was similar between genders (p >.05), but women reported slightly more sleep (M = 7.94 hours) than men (M = 7.73), p =.03. FoMO and social media use were negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, stress. Conclusion Results suggest female college students may struggle more with mental health and quality sleep. Future research should explore whether social media use predicts poor sleep quality and low well-being, or if mental health struggles increase social media appeal. Additionally, interventions to decrease social media use could be investigated for potential improvements in sleep quality and mental health factors. Support (if any) none

Objective: The authors sought to examine the association between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), mental health, personality traits, and social media use among Turkish and U.S. university students, belonging to Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 and 2012, a cohort deeply immersed in technology and social media from an early age. Methods: The present online survey study included 637 university students aged 18-25 (20.09% male, 78.65% female, 1.26% other) from Türkiye (86.03%) and the US (14.97%). Participants completed 19 sociodemographic questions, a 17-item FoMO Scale, and a 44-item Personality Inventory. The study analyzed the relationship between FoMO, mental health, personality traits, and social media use across different platforms. Results: Findings revealed that frequent cell phone use and higher FoMO scores were significantly associated with problematic social media use. TikTok users reported higher FoMO compared to non-users. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the number of social media platforms used and FoMO. Social media use driven by boredom and passive observation further increased FoMO. Associations between FoMO and personality traits highlighted the role of individual differences in social media behaviors. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for tailored interventions that address both social media usage patterns and personality traits to reduce the negative impact of FoMO on mental health. While Gen Z are digital natives, they need to become digital experts to navigate the mental health challenges exacerbated by curated content and the prevalence of FoMO on social media. Universities play a crucial role in raising awareness and supporting students in managing these psychological pressures by promoting balanced digital behaviors. A deeper understanding of the interplay between digital behaviors, personality traits, and cultural contexts can inform future interventions aimed at reducing FoMO and enhancing the well-being of young people in an increasingly interconnected world.

Objective Social media use is ubiquitous during adolescence, and emerging research suggests an association with anxiety symptoms in some individuals. Two psychological constructs which may moderate this relationship are Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and self-compassion. Higher FoMO tendencies may exacerbate the link between social media use and anxiety symptoms through greater fixation on social comparison, whereas higher self-compassion may weaken this link. The purpose of this study was to examine whether FoMO and self-compassion independently moderate the relationship between social media use and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Method Participants included 951 adolescents (M age = 13.69, SD = 0.72; 54% male). Online questionnaires assessed frequency of social media use, anxiety symptoms, FoMO, and self-compassion. Results FoMO moderated the relationship between social media use and anxiety, ΔR 2 = .022, ΔF(1,945) = 26.26, p < .001. Increased social media use was associated with increased anxiety symptoms in adolescents high in FoMO and reduced anxiety for adolescents low in FoMO. Self-compassion was not a significant moderator. Conclusion These findings have implications for social media use, public guidelines and clinical practice and support adoption of a discerning approach to adolescent’s social media use.

This study explores the interrelationship between Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), self-esteem, and anxiety among Generation Z social media users. As digital natives, this demographic is uniquely positioned to experience the psychological impacts of social media, including heightened feelings of FOMO, which are often exacerbated by constant exposure to curated online content. The research employs a quantitative approach, surveying 500 participants aged 18 to 24 to assess their levels of FOMO, self-esteem, and anxiety using validated measurement scales. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between FOMO and anxiety, indicating that individuals who experience higher levels of FOMO are more likely to report increased anxiety symptoms. Conversely, a negative correlation is found between FOMO and self-esteem, suggesting that higher FOMO is associated with lower self-worth. Importantly, self-esteem is identified as a mediating factor in the relationship between FOMO and anxiety, implying that individuals with lower self-esteem are more vulnerable to anxiety when experiencing high levels of FOMO. These results contribute to the growing body of literature on the psychological effects of social media, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing self-esteem and reducing FOMO among Gen Z. Recommendations for mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers are provided, highlighting the importance of fostering digital literacy and promoting healthy social media habits. This study underscores the critical need for ongoing research into the mental health implications of social media use, particularly as Generation Z continues to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

The increasing prevalence of social media use has raised concerns about its potential effects on university students’ psychological experiences and academic outcomes. Although previous research has examined social media addiction, fear of missing out (FoMO), and academic performance, cross-cultural evidence comparing students from Pakistan and the United States of America remains limited. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships among social media addiction, FoMO, and academic performance and to examine cross-cultural differences between university students in the two countries. A cross-cultural, cross-sectional correlational design was employed, and data were collected from 200 university students (Pakistan = 100; United States = 100) aged 18–35 years using purposive sampling. Standardized measures of social media addiction, FoMO, and academic performance were administered. Correlation analyses indicated a strong positive association between social media addiction and FoMO, while both variables showed significant negative relationships with academic performance. Independent sample t-tests revealed no significant differences between Pakistani and U.S. students in social media addiction or FoMO. However, Pakistani students reported significantly higher academic performance than their U.S. counterparts. These results underscore the importance of culturally informed strategies to promote balanced social media use and academic success among students.

Social media use has been linked to poor sleep outcomes among university students in the cyber age, but the association between the negative consequences of social media use and sleep problems is not yet well understood. The present study investigated the relationships among social media usage, social media fatigue (SMF), fear of missing out (FoMO), social media addiction (SMA) and sleep quality in university students. An online survey was administered to 2744 respondents that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); questionnaires evaluating FoMO, SMF, and SMA; and questions regarding sleep duration, social media use, health status, and demographic information. A total of 19.9% of respondents suffered from sleep disturbance. A total of 15.6% of participants had sleep durations less than 5 h, and 21.6% of subjects had sleep durations longer than 9 h. Sleep quality was positively associated with SMF (OR = 1.387, 95% CI: 1.103~1.743), and SMA (OR = 1.415, 95% CI: 1.118~1.791). The relationship between FoMO and sleep disturbance was not significant. Compared to a sleep duration > 9 h, SMF increased the risk of shorter sleep durations [5-6 h sleep (OR = 2.226, 95% CI: 1.132~4.375), 6-7 h sleep (OR = 1.458, 95% CI: 1.061~2.002), and 7-8 h sleep (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.007~1.670)]. FoMO and SMA did not significantly affect sleep duration. In addition, SMA (OR = 3.775, 95% CI: 3.141~4.537), FoMO (OR = 3.301, 95% CI: 2.753~3.958), and sleep disorders (OR = 1.284, 95% CI: 1.006~1.638) increased SMF. Upon experiencing negative consequences of social media use, such as SMF and SMA, university students were likely to experience sleep problems. Further research exploring the interventions that improve sleep and alleviate negative consequences of social media use should be conducted.

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of fear of missing out (FoMO) and the moderating role of resilience in the association between social media use and negative emotions among medical college students in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study design was conducted, medical college students from Qiqihar Medical University, China participated in the study. A total of 470 medical college students were recruited voluntarily to complete questionnaires on social media use, FoMO, resilience, and negative emotions. Social media use was positively associated with FoMO and negative emotions among medical students (p < 0.01). The total effect of social media use on negative emotions was significant (β = 1.101, SE = 0.079, p < 0.001). Social media use had no significant direct effect on negative emotions (β = 0.168, SE = 0.096, p > 0.05), but it had an indirect effect on negative emotions via mediation of FoMO (β = 0.933, SE = 0.106, 95% CI: 0.731 to 1.149). Moreover, resilience had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between FoMO and negative emotions (β = -0.021, SE = 0.005, 95% CI: -0.032 to -0.012). FoMO had a significant positive predictive effect on negative emotions at both levels of resilience (low resilience individuals: β = 1.079, SE = 0.076, p < 0.001; high resilience individuals: β = 0.212, SE = 0.094, p < 0.05). Social media use and FoMO may be risk factors for increased negative emotions, and resilience should be considered in prevention and intervention strategies designed to mitigate negative emotions among medical college students.

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 &lt; 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.

BackgroundThe growing use of social media has created concerns about addiction, and thus, it is necessary to explore how personality traits and fear of missing out (FOMO) can be utilized to predict social media addiction (SMA).ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the connection between personality traits, FOMO, and SMA in university students in Saudi Arabia.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, data were collected from nursing students using the shortened version of the big five inventory, fear of missing out scale, and SMA scale from May to September 2024.ResultsThe study achieved a response rate of 66.7% (414/620), finally including a total of 411 participants. The majority of participants (247/411, 60.1%) had low FOMO scores, while SMA scores showed a different pattern, with a larger proportion (261/411, 63.5%) of participants scoring in the moderate range. In terms of gender differences, male participants exhibited higher levels of FOMO (t=3.86, P<.001) and SMA (t=2.51, P=.013) compared to female participants. Additionally, male participants scored higher in neuroticism (t=3.30, P=.001) and openness (t=1.98, P=.048). Regression analysis revealed that both conscientiousness (β=.357, P<.01) and FOMO (β=.213, P<.01) positively predicted SMA, while neuroticism (β=−.223, P<.01) and being female (β=-.098, P<.05) were associated with lower levels of addiction. The resulting model accounted for 35.8% of the variance.ConclusionsThe study provides evidence that conscientiousness and FOMO are positive predictors of SMA, while neuroticism is negatively correlated with it. Moreover, male participants exhibited higher levels of both FOMO and SMA in comparison to female participants. These findings emphasize the impact of personality traits and FOMO on SMA among university students.

Aim/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the personal narratives of Filipino adolescents about the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and how it affects their overall life situations. By delving into their experiences, this research aimed to uncover the unique ways that FOMO shapes their emotions, behaviors, and social interactions, providing a deeper insight into their daily struggles and coping mechanisms. Introduction/Background: The study encapsulated the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), a common experience among active social media users, especially young people. Social media is a platform where contents are filtered, and only happy and joyful moments are seen. Because of the frequent posting of happy moments and successes on social media, many people perceive others' lives as perfect and feel pitiful about their own lives. People feel that they are not included or that their lives are lacking compared to others. Studies have found that FOMO has a negative impact on self-esteem and mental well-being, and excessive use of social media makes it worse, as it can create negative feelings of envy towards what individuals perceive from social media. Methodology: A qualitative research design that used narrative analysis was chosen to examine how Filipino youth experience Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) in relation to social media use and offline interactions. The study was conducted in the City of Cagayan de Oro, located in the northern part of Mindanao. The researchers selected eight (8) Filipino youths aged 13 to 18 who had experienced FOMO. To obtain the necessary data, a semi-structured interview guide created by the researchers was used as the main research instrument. Since some participants were minors, a consent form was prepared to inform parents of the purpose and method of the study to address ethical considerations. Upon obtaining consent, the researchers set up an interview schedule with each participant. The participants were also asked to fill out an assent form. The researchers utilized open-ended questions to allow participants to reveal their experiences of FOMO. The researchers made audio recordings of the interviews to ensure data accuracy and reliability. The recordings were then transcribed to facilitate analysis. In terms of data analysis, the researchers utilized three levels of narrative analysis: personal, positional, and societal. On a personal level, participants' individual experiences and how they personally experienced FOMO were explored. At the positional level, differences in the social positions of the narrator and the listener were examined. The societal level looked at society's broader view of FOMO, and how it is affected by social factors. The data analysis was divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end. The beginning focused on the individual or personal impact of FOMO. The middle part examined the influence of social networks and relationships with others, especially the role of social belongingness. The final section focused on the broader impact of social media on FOMO, specifically the value of online visibility and social media as a source of personal satisfaction and confidence. Findings: The results showed that due to social media, Filipino adolescents experienced FOMO which affected their self-worth, emotional well-being, and sense of belonging. The frequency of social media use affected adolescents significantly. Many relied on likes and reactions for validation, feeling inadequate when they received little engagement, while social comparisons intensified feelings of exclusion and self-doubt. Peer pressure pushed them to maintain an idealized online presence, often conflicting with their true selves and creating a struggle between social belonging and personal values. Additionally, what individuals perceived on social media affected their self-perception, conflicting with their overall well-being. Some participants recognized the need to detach their self-worth from social media, focusing instead on real-life experiences, personal growth, and meaningful relationships. The findings revealed that social media contributes significantly to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, with adolescents often comparing themselves to others' curated online personas. Despite temporary validation through online engagement, many participants reported a cycle of dependence on social media to avoid missing out. In contrast, in-person interactions offered a sense of belonging and relief from exclusion. Contribution/Impact on Society: The study highlighted the psychological and social impacts of FOMO, and calls for interventions such as digital literacy programs and peer support groups to help adolescents healthily navigate these challenges. Recommendations: It is recommended that educators, parents, and mental health professionals help reduce the feeling of FOMO among adolescents by promoting social media literacy, encouraging open discussions, and providing coping strategies to build self-esteem and resilience against FOMO. Research Limitation: Due to the cultural context, the FOMO discussion may have unique characteristics that would not occur elsewhere. Future Research: Future research should explore the nuances of FOMO in different cultural contexts to provide a broader understanding of its impact and how to develop more effective interventions. Additionally, exploring the role of parental guidance and educational interventions in mitigating FOMO could provide valuable insights into preventive measures.

BackgroundThe relationship between social media use and sleep quality is complicated and may be impacted by several contextual factors, including age, socioeconomic status, living environment, and other medical issues. It is necessary to explore the relationship between social media usage and poor sleep outcomes among university students. However, little is known about the connection between sleep issues and the detrimental effects of social media use. This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media, social media addiction (SMA), social media fatigue (SMF), fear of missing out (FoMO), and sleep quality (SQ) in Bangladeshi students.MethodsPrimary data were collected from 611 university students using a stratified random sampling technique. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and other variables of scales such as SMA, SMF, and FoMO were used in this survey. Descriptive statistics of participants and logistic regression were used to identify significant factors, and ANOVA was used to compare the means of multiple groups to determine.ResultsFindings revealed that 413 (67.57%) respondents have sleep disruption, and most of the participants used social media for 0–2 h daily, however, only a small portion exceeded 8 h. This study also found that SMA, SMF, and FoMO significantly impact the SQ, where students with low SMF scores were 6.85 times more likely to report good sleep quality than those with high SMF scores. Low SMA scores are 2.04 times more likely to have good SQ compared to the high scores of SMA, and for FoMO, the low scores are 2.22 times more likely to have good SQ compared to high scorers of FoMO. Among the participating students, 47% of the students rated their health as “good”, 45% as “fair”, and 4% as “poor”. The study found that sleep SQ has a significant impact on self-reported health status, with good SQ having a 0.598 times lower risk of fair health conditions than those with bad SQ. Moreover, social media use, time spent on social media, and how many hours you usually sleep at night in the past month covariates show a significant impact on student health.ConclusionUniversity students were more likely to have sleep issues after using social media in ways that caused negative effects like SMF, SMA, and FoMO. Social media overactivity reduces sleep quality and affects on also self-reported health, respectively.

Studies have rarely investigated the association between extrinsic motivation and social media fatigue. This study aims to examine the mediating role of Fear of missing out (FOMO) and problematic social media use in the association between extrinsic academic motivation and social media fatigue. A total of 399 college students (43% males) completed measures of extrinsic academic motivation, FOMO, problematic social media use, and social media fatigue. The results showed that FOMO mediated the relationship between extrinsic academic motivation and problematic social media use; problematic social media use mediated the association between FOMO and social media fatigue; extrinsic academic motivation fostered social media fatigue either through FOMO or problematic social media use, or through these two factors together; and the indirect mediation effects between extrinsic academic motivation and social media fatigue through problematic social media use were larger than the single mediation effect of FOMO and their serial mediation effects. In addition, the indirect effects of the three subconstructs of extrinsic academic motivation (external regulation, introjected regulation, and identified regulation) on social media fatigue follow a trend of gradual decline. The findings and implications of this study are presented and discussed.

This three-wave longitudinal study ( n = 1341) examined between- and within-person effects linking fear of missing out (FoMO) and social media use to psychological need satisfaction and well-being over time. As such, this study tests the premise that FoMO can be understood as a self-regulatory limbo, arising from deficits in psychological need satisfaction and/or lower well-being. This limbo is suggested to lead to reciprocal relations between these constructs, yet no study so far has formally put this to the test. At the between-person level, all variables were related. At the within-person level, part of a reciprocal trajectory for FoMO and social media use was found. FoMO at T1 predicted social media use at T2, which subsequently predicted FoMO at T3. The results provide partial evidence of a self-regulatory limbo and raise questions about current theorizing in which such a process is believed to arise from deficits in psychological need satisfaction and psychological well-being.

BackgroundSocial media use has been linked to poor sleep outcomes among university students in the cyber age, but the association between the negative consequences of social media use and sleep problems is not yet well understood. The present study investigated the relationships among social media usage, social media fatigue (SMF), fear of missing out (FoMO), social media addiction (SMA) and sleep quality in university students.MethodAn online survey was administered to 2744 respondents that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); questionnaires evaluating FoMO, SMF, and SMA; and questions regarding sleep duration, social media use, health status, and demographic information.ResultA total of 19.9% of respondents suffered from sleep disturbance. A total of 15.6% of participants had sleep durations less than 5 h, and 21.6% of subjects had sleep durations longer than 9 h. Sleep quality was positively associated with SMF (OR = 1.387, 95% CI: 1.103~1.743), and SMA (OR = 1.415, 95% CI: 1.118~1.791). The relationship between FoMO and sleep disturbance was not significant. Compared to a sleep duration > 9 h, SMF increased the risk of shorter sleep durations [5–6 h sleep (OR = 2.226, 95% CI: 1.132~4.375), 6–7 h sleep (OR = 1.458, 95% CI: 1.061~2.002), and 7–8 h sleep (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.007~1.670)]. FoMO and SMA did not significantly affect sleep duration. In addition, SMA (OR = 3.775, 95% CI: 3.141~4.537), FoMO (OR = 3.301, 95% CI: 2.753~3.958), and sleep disorders (OR = 1.284, 95% CI: 1.006~1.638) increased SMF.ConclusionUpon experiencing negative consequences of social media use, such as SMF and SMA, university students were likely to experience sleep problems. Further research exploring the interventions that improve sleep and alleviate negative consequences of social media use should be conducted.

Addressing FoMO and telepressure among university students: Could a technology intervention help with social media use and sleep disruption?