IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION ON RUMINATION IN YOUTH: THE ROLES OF FEAR OF MISSING OUT, SUBJECTIVE HAPPINESS, AND DIGITAL WELLBEING

Abstract

This study examines how social media addiction impacts rumination among youths and measure the mediation of digital wellbeing and moderation of the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and subjective happiness. The young people in a small geographical region are the target population of this paper which may restrict its applicability to other larger populations. The cross-sectional survey design was used and convenience sampling was employed. Data collection was done through self-administered questionnaire. A descriptive analysis, correlation, regression, and mediation-moderation tests were conducted on SPSS to test the postulated theoretical model. The findings indicate that addiction to social media is a major contributor to rumination in the young population. This relationship was found to be mediated by digital wellbeing, which implies that the reason why addictive use results in high rumination is in part due to low digital wellbeing. FOMO had a significant direct correlation with rumination, with the subjective happiness having a weaker relationship. The correlations between social media addiction and rumination were however not mediated by either FOMO or subjective happiness. Their impact seems to be non-conditional but independent. The research outlines the need to enhance digital wellbeing and treat psychological vulnerabilities among young people in order to minimize rumination linked to social media addiction. Professionals in the field of mental health, education, and practice ought to encourage less harmful digital habits and offer support to cope with FOMO and emotional states. Digital engagements are based on balanced approaches, which would alleviate adverse cognitive outcomes associated with overuse of social media.