Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: a serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem

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Servidio, R., Soraci, P., Griffiths, M.D. ORCID: 0000-0001-8880-6524, Boca, S. and Demetrovics, Z., 2024. Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: a serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 19: 100536.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536

Abstract

Background and aim: Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is consistently associated with problematic social media use (PSMU). Moreover, previous studies have shown a significant association between FoMO, self-esteem, and social comparison. However, there is a lack of studies that have investigated the relationship between, FoMO, social comparison, self-esteem, and PSMU in an integrated model. The present study hypothesized that FoMO may influence PSMU through the serial mediating role of social comparison and self-esteem.

Method: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted comprising 256 Italian university students (74.4% female), aged 18 to 38 years (M = 23.05 years; SD = 3.58). The participants completed an online survey assessing the variables of the study.

Results: Controlling for age and gender, the results showed positive associations between FoMO, social comparison, and PSMU, and a negative association between FoMO and self-esteem. Self-esteem was also negatively associated with PSMU. It was also found that social comparison and self-esteem sequentially mediated the association between FoMO and PSMU.

Conclusions: The present study contributes to understanding the mechanisms that underline the complex effects of FoMO on PSMU.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Addictive Behaviors Reports

Creators:

Servidio, R., Soraci, P., Griffiths, M.D., Boca, S. and Demetrovics, Z.

Publisher:

Elsevier BV

Date:

June 2024

Volume:

Identifiers: