Impact of Facebook usage intensity on fear of missing out and depression: Moderated mediating effect of Facebook usage behaviour

Abstract

This study analysed the complex relationship between Facebook usage intensity, fear of missing out (FOMO), and depression. It examined the moderated mediating effect (conditional indirect effect) of Facebook usage intensity on FOMO-driven depression associated with Facebook usage behaviour among Korean university students. The study conducted an online questionnaire survey of 480 university students in Korea from 15 October to 5 November 2021. The results showed that 1) Facebook usage intensity has a statistically significant and positive impact on depression; 2) there was a partial mediating role of FOMO in the Facebook usage intensity and depression relationship along with the internal influence mechanism of Facebook usage intensity on depression; 3) the effect of Facebook usage behaviour positively moderated the relationship between Facebook usage intensity and FOMO; and 4) Facebook usage behaviour had a FOMO-based positive moderate mediating effect on the relationship between Facebook usage intensity and depression. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between Facebook usage intensity, FOMO, depression, and Facebook usage behaviour among Korean university.