Navigating stress in the multi-device, multi-channel work environment: the role of subjective interruptedness and Fear of Missing Out at work

The increasing prevalence of social media has given rise to the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) phenomenon, characterized by an acute awareness of the rewarding experiences others might be enjoying. FoMO is hypothesized to affect various aspects of individuals' lives, including their psychological well-being and academic performance. This study explores these relationships among university students, a demographic particularly vulnerable to social media influences. To examine the relationships between FoMO, social media use, psychological well-being (as measured by life satisfaction), and academic performance (as measured by GPA) among university students and determine the mediating roles of FoMO and social media use. A quantitative, correlational design was employed, collecting data from 521 university students through a cross-sectional survey. Participants completed the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMO), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and self-reported GPA. Social media use was assessed via a customized questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing correlation analysis, multiple regression, and mediation analysis. Findings indicated a strong positive association between FoMO and social media use (R 2 = 0.633, p < 0.001), suggesting that higher levels of FoMO lead to increased social media engagement (B = 0.834, p < 0.001). Contrary to expectations, FoMO was positively rather than negatively correlated with life satisfaction (R 2 = 0.064, p < 0.001, B = 0.158). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was observed between social media use and academic performance (Spearman's rho = 0.765, p < 0.001). Mediation analyses revealed that FoMO does not significantly mediate the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction, as the indirect effect was not statistically significant (B = 0.0785, 95% CI: -0.0164 to 0.1467). Similarly, the non-significant indirect effect indicated that social media use did not mediate the relationship between FoMO and academic performance (B = 0.005, 95% CI: -0.0045 to 0.0146). Moderation analyses showed that FoMO moderates the relationship between social media use and life satisfaction, where social media use hurt life satisfaction at low levels of FoMO (B = -0.1713, p = 0.0001) but had a positive effect at high levels of FoMO (B = 0.2848, p < 0.0001). This suggests that individuals with high FoMO may derive psychological benefits from social media use. Additionally, results indicated that social media use moderates the relationship between FoMO and academic performance, where FoMO had a significant adverse effect on GPA at low social media use (B = -0.030, p < 0.0001). Still, this effect became non-significant at high levels of social media use (B = 0.0097, p = 0.1028). Finally, life satisfaction moderates the relationship between FoMO and social media use, with higher life satisfaction strengthening the positive association between FoMO and social media use (B = 0.9277, p < 0.0001). These findings highlight the complex interplay between FoMO, social media use, life satisfaction, and academic performance. While FoMO increases social media engagement, its positive association with life satisfaction contradicts theoretical expectations. These results underscore the importance of considering psychological and social factors when evaluating the impact of social media use among university students.

The fact that digital technologies have become an integral part of daily life and the widespread use of smartphones bring different problems with them. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and No Mobile Phone Phobia (Nomophobia) are among these problems. It is noteworthy that these interrelated concepts are considered as digital diseases of the 21st century and in recent years, research on the variables explaining these concepts has increased. It should be noted, however, that these studies generally focus on adolescents known as Generation Z. However, Nomophobia and FoMO are important sources of risk not only for young people, but also for adults called Generation Y, who spend most of their lives at workplaces. For employees, factors such as workplace loneliness and the need to belong can influence the risk of FoMO as much as Nomophobia. However, these influences that lead employees to FoMO syndromes are still under-researched. For this reason, the current study aims to examine the direct effects of workplace loneliness on FoMO and its indirect effects through general belongingness (GB) and Nomofobia (NMP). For this purpose, 204 people working in different sectors were reached and the data obtained from the voluntary participants were analyzed by structural regression analysis. The results indicate that the independent variables GB and NMP have a statistically significant direct effect on the dependent variable FoMO, with coefficients of β=-0.207 (p0.05). These results indicate that a low level of general belongingness has a negative effect on employees' FoMO levels, while a high level of belongingness has a positive effect. Similarly, it has been observed that employees' levels of nomophobia have a direct and positive impact on their FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) levels. Lastly, the acceptance dimension of general belongingness and all sub-dimensions of nomophobia indirectly influence the relationship between workplace loneliness and FoMO.

Background: Emerging adulthood is a period of self-exploration or identity. In this era, individuals build relationships to connect with other people through social media. Dependence on social media has negative impacts, one of which is anxiety. The anxiety disorder that appears is called fear of missing out (FoMO). Symptoms can be seen from dependence on cell phones, tension when not accessing social media, and obsession with what other individuals upload. The impact is a feeling of inferiority. Low self-satisfaction in an individual's life encourages high levels of FoMO and has negative impacts such as decreased academic achievement, difficulty communicating with other people and disrupting developmental stages in the emerging adulthood phase. Purpose: To determine the relationship between self-esteem and fear of missing out (FoMO) in emerging adulthood. Method: Quantitative descriptive with a correlational approach. The sample in this study amounted to 343 respondents with a sampling technique using proportional stratified random sampling. The research instrument used was a standard self-esteem questionnaire, namely the Rosernberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) with a validity result of r ≤ 0.30 and a reliability level of 0.889 Cronbach's Alpha, in addition the fear of missing out scale (FoMOS) questionnaire was used with a validity result of r ≤ 0.30 and The reliability level is 0.661 Cronbach's Alpha. Results: The majority of self-esteem levels in emerging adulthood are in the medium category. Obtained p-value &lt;0.001, which means p&lt;α (0.05) indicates a significant relationship between self-esteem and FoMO that occurs in emerging adulthood. Conclusion: There is a significant influence between high self-esteem and low levels of fear of missing out (FoMO) in emerging adulthood. Suggestion: Emerging adulthood who experience high FoMO with low self-esteem can make self-improvement by reducing excessive use of social media to minimize the occurrence of prolonged feelings of low self-esteem. Keyword: Emerging Adulthood; Fear of Missing Out (FoMO); Self-Esteem. Pendahuluan: Manusia dewasa awal merupakan masa eksplorasi jati diri atau identitas. Pada masa ini, individu membangun relasi untuk terhubung dengan orang lain melalui media sosial. Ketergantungan terhadap media sosial memberikan dampak negatif, salah satunya adalah kecemasan. Gangguan kecemasan yang muncul disebut fear of missing out (FoMO). Gejalanya dapat terlihat dari ketergantungan akan ponsel, ketegangan saat tidak mengakses media sosial, dan obsesi dengan apa yang diunggah oleh individu lain. Dampak yang ditimbulkan adalah perasaan rendah diri. Rendahnya kepuasan diri dalam hidup individu mendorong tingkat FoMO yang tinggi dan memberikan dampak negatif seperti, prestasi akademik menurun, kesulitan untuk berkomunikasi dengan orang lain dan mengganggu tahap perkembangan pada fase dewasa awal. Tujuan: Untuk mengetahui hubungan harga diri dengan fear of missing out (FoMO) pada emerging adulthood. Metode: Deskriptif kuantitatif dengan pendekatan korelasional. Sampel dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 343 responden dengan teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan proportionate stratified random sampling. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan berupa kuesioner baku harga diri yaitu Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) dengan hasil validitas r ≤ 0.30 dan tingkat reabilitas 0.889 Alpha Cronbach’s, selain itu digunakan kuesioner fear of missing out scale (FoMOS) dengan hasil validitas r ≤ 0.30 dan tingkat reabilitas 0.661 Alpha Cronbach’s. Hasil: Tingkat harga diri pada emerging adulthood mayoritas berada pada kategori sedang. Didapatkan p-value &lt;0.001 yang artinya p&lt;α (0.05) menunjukkan adanya hubungan yang signifikan antara harga diri dengan FoMO yang terjadi pada emerging adulthood. Simpulan: Terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan antara tingginya nilai harga diri menjadikan rendahnya tingkat fear of missing out (FoMO) pada emerging adulthood. Saran: Emerging adulthood yang mengalami FoMO tinggi dengan harga diri rendah dapat melakukan perbaikan diri dengan mengurangi penggunaan media sosial yang berlebihan guna meminimalisir terjadinya perasaan rendah diri yang berkepanjangan. Kata Kunci: Dewasa Awal; Fear of Missing Out (FoMO); Harga Diri.

TikTok is one of the most popular social media today and has even become one of the social media that triggered the emergence of fear of missing out (FoMO) phenomenon. FoMO is a feeling of anxiety, discomfort, and restlessness felt by a person when he/she feels missing out on opportunities, experiences, or even interesting events presented by other TikTok users. While the existing literatures mostly focuse on the psychological aspects of FoMO and the reasons behind its occurrence, a novel contribution of this article is the different levels of FoMO experienced by those who experience it. Using a qualitative approach, this study was conducted between May 2023 and August 2023. There were ten participants involved in this study who had experienced or were currently experiencing FoMO. They varied in terms of gender (four males and six females) and age (between 18 and 24 years old), status (six university students, two employees and the other two high school students. Data were collected using in-depth interview and observation. The research shows that FoMO is the fear of something happening and going viral on TikTok, but when someone misses it or experience it, then he/she will feel left behind, which is popularly termed as "not updated". TikTok is very significant in causing FoMO because it contains unlimited content, is presented in a short duration, is easily accessed, so it can stimulate its users to always scroll (up, down, left, right), and poison its users. When they can't control themselves, they become addicted. There are four main levels of FoMO on TikTok: first, mild FoMO which is just a curiosity to participate in viral content; second, moderate FoMO, where users feel anxious about not being able to follow viral content and create a greater desire to engage; third, severe FoMO which can make users feeling stress and trying to always be connected to TikTok, even to the point of interfering with their daily activities; and finally, extreme FoMO which is the most dangerous level of FoMO because they feel trap by excessive FoMO, even to the point of wanting to end their lives. It is argued in this article that what level a person is at depends on how a person controls him/herself over the use of TikTok. Therefore, TikTok users must be careful from the beginning to control themselves, so that this super strong social media does not dominate its users

The increase in the use of internet, mobile devices and social media tools causes an increase in the factors affecting the investment decisions of individual investors. Especially social media platforms can trigger individual investors' fear of missing out (FoMO), uncertainty avoidance and impulsive buying emotions, which can direct investors' behavior and directly affect their investment decisions. In the literature, FoMO, uncertainty avoidance and impulsiveness, which have been studied in marketing, communication, and psychology, have been addressed separately in a few studies in finance. The most important point that distinguishes this study from other studies is that the relationship between FoMO, uncertainty avoidance and impulsiveness in the investment decisions of individual investors is studied together. The data used in the study was collected through a survey to measure uncertainty avoidance, impulsivity and FoMO levels from people over the age of 18, who have income and have made at least one financial investment. In the study, factor analysis was conducted on the participants' investment preferences, uncertainty avoidance, impulsivity and FoMO scales, Cronbach Alpha values of the factors were examined, and then cluster analysis was conducted for each scale. In the study, by examining individual investors' investment preferences and investment frequency separately, it was concluded that investors who invest in the same investment type exhibit different behaviors according to their investment frequency. This shows that investors who invest in the same investment instruments have different levels of FoMO, impulsiveness and uncertainty avoidance. The relationships between the frequency of investment in each type of investment and FoMO, uncertainty avoidance and impulsiveness are presented in detail in the relevant sections of the study.

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is an internalized belief that others may experience valuable events which one feels excluded. This study delves into the connection between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and self-esteem of students. Its objectives include understanding the demographic makeup, levels of FoMO, and self-esteem among students, and examining the correlation between FoMO and self-esteem. Validated scales were used to gauge FoMO and self-esteem, employing descriptive-correlational research design implemented. This study involved 350 students, offering insights into their experiences with FoMO and self-esteem. The results indicate that the students experience moderate levels of FoMO, both in private and social contexts, alongside moderate levels of self-esteem, with signs of disagreement in self-competence and self-liking. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis highlights a significant positive correlation between FoMO and self-esteem, suggesting that higher self-esteem may be associated with slightly greater FoMO experiences. The researchers recommend exploring potential mediating factors in the self-esteem and FoMO relationship, such as social media addiction or personality traits

This research focuses on consumers’ experiential purchase decisions motivated by the fear of missing out (FOMO). I propose that consumers are more likely to attend an event when individuals with whom they have strong (weak) interpersonal ties will be present, because consumers will experience higher (lower) levels of FOMO. The results of one qualitative and four quantitative studies, including a behavioral study, demonstrate that purchase intent is higher when participants imagine that their close friends (i.e., strong ties) will attend, an effect mediated by FOMO and anticipated regret. Furthermore, the type of experience (i.e., ordinary, extraordinary) moderates the relationship of social ties (strong, weak) on FOMO and anticipated regret. This serial moderated mediation model indicates that the social group has no effect when an experience is extraordinary but does when an experience is ordinary. This dissertation also highlights the distinctions between the constructs of FOMO and anticipated regret. These findings provide evidence of the circumstances that can result in greater feelings of FOMO, and consequently, in increased purchase intent. Other constructs such as social exclusion is discussed. I also observe whether FOMO is an automatic process or if it is experienced after careful consideration of the stimuli. This is the first empirical research, to my knowledge, to consider purchase and behavioral intent as a consequence of FOMO. The data collected and analyzed support most of the hypotheses including that FOMO is experienced more commonly with strong ties as opposed to weak ties, that FOMO and anticipated regret are serial mediators to the relationship between social ties and purchase intent, and that this relationship is moderated by the type of experience (although experienced equally during an extraordinary experience for both strong and weak social ties), and that FOMO is an automatic phenomenon. FOMO had been commonly studied previously as an individual difference, but here I investigate situational circumstances that result in higher levels of FOMO for the general consumer population. Future research on this topic is encouraged to explore other consequences and ramifications of FOMO and how it affects consumers.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) and internet addiction are significant phenomena in today's digital age. This study aims to explore the relationships between FoMO levels, internet addiction levels, time spent on the internet, and other factors among dental students. Data were collected from 252 dental students, including 127 females. Information gathered included FoMO levels, internet addiction levels, university year, age, time spent on the internet, and income level. Correlation analysis and statistical tests were performed to explore relationships between variables. Descriptive statistics revealed that the majority of participants were between 21 and 24 years old, with most reporting a middle income. The correlation analysis showed a moderate positive relationship between FoMO and internet addiction (r=0.356, p<0.001). Time spent on the internet showed a moderately strong positive correlation with internet addiction levels (r=0.583) and a moderate correlation with FoMO levels (r=0.316). Average FoMO and internet addiction levels varied across university years, showing fluctuations without a consistent trend. FoMO is positively associated with internet addiction and time spent on the internet, highlighting its potential influence on dental students in the digital age. Addressing FoMO and promoting healthier digital habits may help mitigate internet addiction and excessive internet usage. Further research is needed to explore causal relationships and other influencing factors.

The purpose of this study was to assess in-service preschool teachers’ and preschool teacher candidates’ levels of Nomophobia (NO MObile PHone phOBIA) and FoMO (Fear of Missing Out). This study is a quantitative one in its nature, and rests on the correlational survey design from descriptive research models. We recruited a total of 310 participants in the study group. We collected data through the Nomophobia Questionnaire and the FOMO Scale. We found that both the in-service preschool teachers and the preschool teacher candidates had severe levels of nomophobia and moderate levels of FoMO. The in-service preschool teachers’ nomophobia scores did not differ significantly by age groups, but there was a statistically significant difference in their FoMO scores among age groups. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences between the in-service preschool teachers and the preschool teacher candidates’ nomophobia and FoMO scores. Accordingly, the preschool teacher candidates had higher mean scores in their nomophobia and FoMO levels when compared with the in-service ones. Based on these findings, new inquiries about/into teachers’ nomophobia and FoMO levels should be done to be able to make comparisons. Further, it could give fruitful results to recruit teachers from different branches. Another suggestion is to test teachers’ nomophobia and FoMO levels in terms of demographics, particularly respecting gender and marital status as well as culture so that the justifications could be made about the results.

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.

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is an increasingly relevant psychological phenomenon for high school students due to the increasing use of social media and social pressure to stay connected. This study aims to investigate the variation of FoMO levels in Saraswati 1 Denpasar High School students by considering demographic factors such as gender, age, and class. Using a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative design, data were collected from 236 students through a FoMO Scale-based questionnaire by Przybylski et al. (2013). The results showed that 40.7% of the students experienced FoMO at a moderate level, with no statistical analysis finding any significant differences based on sex (p = 0.364), age (p = 0.643), or class (p = 0.174). These findings indicate that demographic factors may not be the main factor influencing FoMO levels in this population. This study highlights the need for further exploration of the psychosocial factors that contribute to FoMO, including the influence of social media, peer pressure, and students' emotional regulation. In addition, future research may explore school-based intervention strategies to reduce the impact of FoMO on mental health, such as digital literacy programs and psychological support to improve students' emotional well-being. As such, these findings could provide insights for schools and mental health practitioners in designing more effective approaches to help students manage FoMO and its impacts.

The fear of missing out (FOMO), defined as “a pervasive apprehension that others may be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent” (Przybylski et al., 2013), has been seen as a motivator for individuals to take action. This paper focuses on consumers’ experiential purchase decisions motivated by FOMO. More specifically, we explore the situational factors that can lead to higher levels of FOMO including the social group (i.e., close vs. distant) and type of experiences (i.e., ordinary vs. extraordinary). We also distinguish FOMO from anticipated regret. Given that there is little empirical consumer research on FOMO, it is important to clearly identify FOMO’s antecedents in order to further understand this phenomenon. The results of two empirical studies showed that purchase intent is higher when participants imagined that their close, rather than their distant, social group will attend an event. Findings further demonstrate that FOMO mediates the relationship between social group and purchase intent. In the first study, 115 undergraduate students anticipated feeling higher levels of FOMO when a close social group, as opposed to a distant social group, was attending a local music festival, which in turn lead to higher purchase intentions t(113) = -2.67, p &lt; .01 (Mclose = 5.05, SD = 1.69; Mdistant = 4.24, SD = 1.69). A mediation analysis demonstrated the mediating role of FOMO on the effect of social group on purchase intention revealing a 95% BC Bootstrap confidence interval that is entirely above zero ß = .25, SE = .11, 95% CI [.08, .53]. In the second study, we test how the type of experience (ordinary, extraordinary) moderates the relationship of social groups (close, distant) on FOMO. The music festival scenario was described to appear either extraordinary (i.e., favorite band, VIP passes with backstage access, etc.) or ordinary (i.e., unknown local bands only, general admission, etc.). Participants (n = 129) reported experiencing more FOMO when their close friends were attending an ordinary event rather than an extraordinary event. This was supported through a moderated mediation analysis that is statistically different from zero (ß = -.42, SE = .20, 95% CI [-.92, -.12]). This model indicates that the type of experience has no effect on purchase intentions when a distant social Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings March 2018 2 Copyright of the Author(s) and published under a Creative Commons License Agreement http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ group is involved but does when a close social group will attend an event. Consumers reported feeling higher levels of FOMO for ordinary events than extraordinary events with their close social groups. We believe that as the experience becomes more extraordinary, consumers value the event more as a once in a lifetime opportunity and place more importance on the experience itself rather than with whom they are sharing the experience. As the experience became more extraordinary, consumers reporting feeling higher levels of anticipated regret than FOMO. The social element, which is a key component of FOMO, do not play as central of role for anticipated regret. These findings provide insight into the circumstances that can result in greater feelings of FOMO and consequently greater purchase intent.

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 Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent in the 21st century, fueled by the rise of social media. FoMO, characterized by the apprehension that others may be having more rewarding experiences and a desire to stay continually connected, has significant implications for mental health, particularly among emerging adults. This qualitative study aims to explore the subjective lived experiences of FoMO and the coping strategies employed by emerging adults. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The findings revealed that participants experienced FoMO as involving feelings of exclusion, disconnection, and inadequacy upon becoming aware of experiences peers were having. However, FoMO was also perceived as an important signal of unmet needs, prompting reflection on the misalignment between one’s actual life and desired life. FoMO was amplified in contexts involving identity formation and pivotal life choices, such as social, professional (education/work/career), and dating situations. Participants described various spontaneous coping strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal and perspective-taking to reframe it constructively, emotional coping through self-soothing, and behavioral approaches like temporarily disconnecting from social media. These self-initiated coping methods suggest a potential for developing new interventions aimed at empowering emerging adults to manage the effects of FoMO on their well-being. While most research emphasizes the connection between FoMO and technology, this study advances the understanding of FoMO by highlighting its characteristics as an everyday experience in various life domains along with ways of coping during the developmental period of emerging adulthood.

PurposeThe rapid growth of social media has changed how people interact and connect with one another while also giving rise to new social-media associated psychological experiences, such as the well-known fear of missing out (FoMO) and the somewhat new phenomena, the joy of missing out (JoMO). This study aims to develop a new scale for measuring JoMO and explore its independent nature and relationships with well-being, social comparison and demographic variables.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 230 participants filled out an online survey, including questions about demographic details, well-being, social media engagement, social comparison, FoMO and a new JoMO scale. The data was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling.FindingsThe study confirmed the validity and reliability of the new JoMO scale in three sub-categories: active JoMO, passive JoMO and coping with disconnection. Younger individuals and those who were single, with weaker psychological well-being, higher engagement in social media and greater social comparison inclinations tended to experience higher levels of FoMO. Conversely, older individuals, women and those who enjoyed stronger psychological well-being and reduced social media engagement demonstrated higher levels of JoMO. The findings also suggest a complex relationship between FoMO and JoMO.Practical implicationsThe creation of an innovative JoMO measurement tool could transform both scholarly research and practical approaches to digital media interactions. This tool offers a deeper understanding of the intricate links between JoMO and factors such as social comparison and FoMO, paving the way for targeted interventions. By utilizing this, experts can foster healthier online behaviors and better psychological health through increased JoMO consciousness, reduced social media engagement and social comparisons, and FoMO management. Therefore, this fresh instrument assists in clarifying and improving how individuals engage with digital technology.Originality/valueThis research validates the JoMO scale, enhancing our understanding of JoMO and its potential effects on well-being, as well as its associations with other variables. In addition, this research provides valuable insights for future studies on social media use and JoMO, and for developing effective strategies for managing healthier online experiences.