Servidio R, Soraci P, Griffiths MD, Boca S, Demetrovics Z. Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: A serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem.
Addict Behav Rep 2024;
19:100536. [PMID:
38495391 PMCID:
PMC10943642 DOI:
10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
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.
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