FEAR OF MISSING OUT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF PROBLEMATIC SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND SOCIAL COMPARISON

Abstract

The rapid growth of social media has changed how people interact with each other, but has also caused some fears about its effects on mental health. A psychological construct that has become increasingly popular in the given context is the fear of missing out (FOMO), a state of anxiety about being left out of pleasurable social experiences. This paper has explored the connections among FOMO, problematic social media use (PSMU), social comparison and psychological well-being with specific emphasis on depression and anxiety. The study design employed a cross-sectional survey, and data were collected through standardised self-report measures, which included 428 active social media users in Pakistan in October and December 2023. The proposed model was tested by means of regression and mediation analysis. The results found that FOMO was a significant predictor of depression, anxiety, problematic use of social media, and social comparison. Another finding was that problematic social media use and social comparison had a strong connection with increased depression and anxiety levels. According to the mediation analyses, both independently and in series, PSMU and social comparison mediated the relationships between FOMO and psychological distress. These findings indicate that FOMO plays a role in mental health issues not only directly but indirectly due to excessive use of social media and increased social comparison. The paper emphasizes the need to consider FOMO-relevant cognitions and unhealthy behaviors of social media when trying to enhance psychological well-being. Promotion of better digital habits and dependence on online validation could be used to curb depression and anxiety in social media users.