Fear of Missing Out, Internet Addiction and Their Relationship to Psychological Symptoms

Abstract

Internet addiction has become one of the most important problems of today's youth and received considerableattention from scholars. Research demonstrated significant impairments in psychological and social functioning among internet dependents. Given this, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship betweenfear of missing out (FoMO), internet addiction, and psychological symptoms. Based on research demonstratingthat FoMO, the pervasive anxiety associated with the feeling that one is missing out others’ satisfying experiences, increases social media engagement, it was expected that FoMO would relate to internet addiction, whichin turn would be linked to poor psychological well-being. The sample consisted of 322 undergraduate studentswho filled out items measuring FoMO, internet addiction and psychological symptoms. The regression analysisrevealed that internet addiction acts as a mediator in the link between FoMO and psychological symptoms.That is, the participants’ greater FoMO is linked to higher levels of psychological symptoms both directly andindirectly through a higher level of internet addiction. Overall, the present study provides an insight into ourunderstanding of the psychological and behavioral aspects of internet addiction, and thus, makes an importantcontribution to the promotion of mental health.