The links between fear of missing out, status-seeking, intrasexual competition, sociosexuality, and social support

Abstract

With the surge of social media use in contemporary society, scholars have focused on how feelings of apprehension that one is missing out on important social activities (i.e., fear of missing out [FoMO]) might influence mental health. However, worry surrounding social inclusion is not a contemporary problem, and successfully participating in social events is an important aspect of human evolutionary history. To our knowledge, researchers have yet to frame the phenomenon of FoMO in an evolutionary perspective. In a sample of N = 327 heterosexual American adults (Mage = 36.94, SD = 10.24), we found that FoMO correlated positively with status-striving and intrasexual competitiveness, as well as unrestricted sociosexual behavior and desires. Among females, but not males, FoMO was negatively linked to received social support. Results highlight how adults higher in FoMO express a greater inclination to compete for evolutionarily salient social and reproductive resources and devote more effort toward short-term mating. FoMO may also alert females to the absence of desired social support. Findings provide insight into the utility of an evolutionary approach to studying individual differences in the experience of FoMO, which can aid in gathering a more comprehensive understanding of the construct.