Perceived Strain Due to COVID-19-Related Restrictions Mediates the Effect of Social Needs and Fear of Missing Out on the Risk of a Problematic Use of Social Networks

The longitudinal relationship between loneliness and problematic social networking site use in college students: the mediating role of trait- and state-fear of missing out

Aims

This longitudinal study explored the mechanisms of loneliness, trait-fear of missing out (trait-FoMO), and state-fear of missing out (state-FoMO) on problematic social networking site use (PSNSU) among Chinese college students.

Methods

Data were collected in two waves. Overall, 417 college students (45.08% male and 54.92% female, with an average age of 19.87 ± 1.05) completed measures of loneliness and PSNSU at the first time point (T1), and measures of trait-FoMO, state-FoMO, and PSNSU 12 months later (T2).

Results

(1) There were significant positive correlations among loneliness, trait-FoMO, state-FoMO, and PSNSU; (2) Trait-FoMO and state-FoMO fully mediated the relationship between loneliness and PSNSU; (3) there were two paths of loneliness that influenced PSNSU: loneliness was associated with PSNSU through the mediating role of trait-FoMO alone and the chain mediating role of trait- and state-FoMO.

Conclusion

This study highlights the need to accurately distinguish between trait-FoMO and state-FoMO, considering their different underlying mechanisms in addressing problematic network problems among college students.

Gender Disparities in Pandemic-Related Strains, Digital Coping Strategies, and Protective Mechanisms Among Rural-to-Urban Migrant Working Adolescents in China

The COVID-19 pandemic placed significant strains on daily life, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as rural-to-urban young migrant workers. Based on General Strain Theory (GST), these pandemic-related strains lead to delinquent copings, including excessive Internet use. However, the association between pandemic-related challenges faced by migrant youth and their digital copings has yet to be investigated. GST also posits that some conditioning factors, such as conventional beliefs, internal resilience and life satisfaction, might serve as protective factors, which can help to alleviate the disruptive consequences of the pandemic-related strains. Utilizing the fourth sweep of International Self-Report Delinquency Survey (ISRD4) in China comprising 769 working migrant adolescents aged 16 to 19, who did not attend high school, the present study examines variations in pandemic-related strains, frequent use of the Internet for gaming and social media, and their associations. In addition, this study investigates the moderating effect of three protective factors: conventional beliefs, internal resilience and life satisfaction. Results indicated that economic strain, information strain and health-related strain significantly influenced digital coping strategies, with notable gender differences. Conventional beliefs served as a significant moderator for males, while life satisfaction played a more significant moderating role for females. Relevant policy implications are then discussed.

The relationship between fear of missing out, digital technology use, and psychological well-being: A scoping review of conceptual and empirical issues

Given the rise of digital technology and its assumed impact on psychological well-being, this scoping review systematically examines the literature on Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), which is assumed to play a pivotal role in this dynamic. Although adverse effects of FoMO are commonly assumed, there is still no consensus on the nature of the phenomenon or its relations with psychological well-being and digital technology use, making a scoping review essential. To address this need, we comprehensively assess the conceptualizations of the construct of FoMO and its roles in relation to well-being and digital technology use. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Ebsco/APA PsycINFO, and Web of Science (period 2013 to July 7, 2023), screening 4121 articles at the title and abstract level and assessing 342 full-text articles for eligibility, ultimately including 106 articles. The review revealed a fragmented FoMO literature, emphasizing the need for conceptual clarity to address critical gaps and inconsistencies in existing research. Consensus exists on FoMO's essence-an unpleasant feeling arising from missed social experiences driven by activity comparison. However, debates include FoMO's associated affective states and conceptual boundaries, as well as the need to disentangle FoMO as a trait or state. The review also underscored FoMO's multifaceted roles in well-being and digital technology use, highlighting the need for causal research, theoretical guidance, and unified terminology to advance understanding in the FoMO literature.

Association between problematic social networking use and anxiety symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A growing number of studies have reported that problematic social networking use (PSNU) is strongly associated with anxiety symptoms. However, due to the presence of multiple anxiety subtypes, existing research findings on the extent of this association vary widely, leading to a lack of consensus. The current meta-analysis aimed to summarize studies exploring the relationship between PSNU levels and anxiety symptoms, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, attachment anxiety, and fear of missing out. 209 studies with a total of 172 articles were included in the meta-analysis, involving 252,337 participants from 28 countries. The results showed a moderately positive association between PSNU and generalized anxiety (GA), social anxiety (SA), attachment anxiety (AA), and fear of missing out (FoMO) respectively (GA: r = 0.388, 95% CI [0.362, 0.413]; SA: r = 0.437, 95% CI [0.395, 0.478]; AA: r = 0.345, 95% CI [0.286, 0.402]; FoMO: r = 0.496, 95% CI [0.461, 0.529]), and there were different regulatory factors between PSNU and different anxiety subtypes. This study provides the first comprehensive estimate of the association of PSNU with multiple anxiety subtypes, which vary by time of measurement, region, gender, and measurement tool.

Examining the interplay between internet use disorder tendencies and well-being in relation to sofalizing during the COVID-19 pandemic

AIMS

The present study investigated the potential links between Internet Use Disorder tendencies, well-being and the impact of COVID-19 on Internet usage patterns.

METHOD

A sample of 2498 participants filled out the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; the cognitive facet of well-being) and the Sofalizing Scale which comprises the Online Displacement and Social Compensation dimensions. Participants were also asked to report the extent to which changes in Internet use occurred due to COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., reductions, no changes, increases). The present study comprised a survey study with cross-sectional character.

RESULTS

The statistical analyses demonstrated that the aforementioned variables were robustly associated with each other. In a first mediation model, the association between higher levels of Internet Use Disorder and reduced well-being was partially mediated by the two dimensions of the Sofalizing scale called Online Displacement and Social Compensation. The results of the second mediation model showed that the relationship between changes in Internet use due to COVID-19 pandemic and well-being was fully mediated by CIUS scores, suggesting that increased Internet use due to the COVID-19 pandemic increased levels of Internet Use Disorder tendencies, which in turn decreased levels of well-being.

DISCUSSION

The findings are discussed in the context of human social needs in a time of crisis, where meeting people in-person was restricted.

Covid-19 psychological pressures, depression and FOMO: the mediating role of online social support and emotional regulation

BACKGROUND

The spread of the coronavirus has led to significant anxiety among university students, resulting in various mental health problems that could potentially impact their academic performance.

METHOD

To examine the mediating role of emotional regulation and online social support in the relationships between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out (FoMO) among young adult university students, a cross-sectional research design was employed using an online survey. The sample consisted of 521 full-time university students from China, currently enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that more than half (55.09%, n=287) of the university students experienced COVID-19 psychological pressures. These pressures directly contributed to increased levels of depression (β = 0.339, p < .001) and fear of missing out (β = 0.236, p < .001). Moreover, online social support and emotional regulation exhibited partial mediating effects on the association between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out. The results indicated that COVID-19 psychological pressures were linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms and a greater fear of missing out among university students.

CONCLUSIONS

However, the provision of timely and adequate online social support, as well as the implementation of emotional regulation strategies, mitigated the negative effects of the pandemic on students' social and emotional well-being. Consequently, this led to reduced levels of depression and fear of missing out.

Risk factors for poor progression of addictive internet use across different COVID-19 periods in China

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Addictive behaviors are serious factors for mental health and usually increase during public crises. We identified the vulnerable characteristics for bad prognosis of addictive internet use across different periods of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS

Self-reported questionnaires were delivered in three waves through jdh.com during the outbreak (n = 17,960), remission (n = 15,666), and dynamic zero (n = 12,158) periods of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Internet addiction degree was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test. The different progression groups were divided using a latent class growth model among 1679 longitudinal participants. Risk factors for bad progression were identified by two-step logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 40.16% of participants reported an increase in the addictive degree of internet use compared with prepandemic. Across different COVID-19 periods, the overall trend of addictive internet use was downward among general Chinese study participants (Mslope = -1.56). Childhood traumatic experiences, deterioration of physical health, depression, and anxiety during remission and dynamic periods were the main risk factors for the bad progression of pandemic-induced addictive internet use.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Addictive internet use was remitted following relaxed control policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Negative childhood experiences and bad mental status during the recovery period were harmful to coping with pandemic-related addictive internet use.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings profiled the general trend of addictive internet use and the vulnerable characteristics of its bad progression across different periods of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our findings provide valuable insights for preventing the long-term adverse effects of negative public events on Internet addiction.

COVID-19 lockdown stress and problematic social networking sites use among quarantined college students in China: A chain mediation model based on the stressor-strain-outcome framework

The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with a global increase in problematic social networking sites use (PSNSU). By drawing on transactional stress theory and applying the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) framework, we proposed and verified a chain mediation model to explore the mediating roles of fear of missing out (FoMO) and future anxiety (FA) in the relationship between COVID-19 lockdown stress (CL stress) and PSNSU. Our sample of 670 quarantined college students in China responded to a COVID-19 student stress questionnaire, a social network addiction scale, a fear of missing out scale, and a dark future scale. The results revealed that (1) CL stress significantly positively predicted PSNSU, (2) both FoMO and FA mediated the relationship between CL stress and PSNSU, (3) FoMO significantly positively predicted FA, and (4) a full chain mediation was observed between CL stress and PSNSU.

The Relationship between Stress Perception and Problematic Social Network Use among Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of the Fear of Missing Out

Based on the interaction of person-affect-cognition-execution model, this study examined the association between stress perception and problematic social network use among Chinese college students and explored the mediating effect of the fear of missing out (FoMO) on the relationship between stress perception and problematic social network use. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 554 students from nine universities in China. We found that stress perception was significantly positively correlated with problematic social network use and FoMO (r = 0.38, 0.46; p < 0.001), and FoMO was significantly positively correlated with problematic social network use (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). FoMO mediated the relationship between stress perception and problematic social network use. Conclusion: Stress perception has a negative impact on college students' problematic social network use via the mediating effect of FoMO. Practical implications that reveal the college students' problematic social network use were discussed as well.

The fear in desire: linking desire thinking and fear of missing out in the social media context

According to the Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire, desire thinking and an associated deficit are fundamental factors to the emergence of craving. In the special case of problematic social networking sites (SNS) use, this experienced deficit could be constituted of an online-specific fear of missing out (FoMO). To test the interaction of these cognitions and their influence on problematic SNS use, we tested a serial mediation model on a sample of N = 193 individuals who use SNS (73% female, M_age = 28.3, SD = 9.29). We found that desire thinking predicted FoMO and both variables were only significant predictors of problematic SNS use when considered in interplay with craving. Ad hoc analyses revealed that the verbal subcomponent of desire thinking is more strongly associated with FoMO than imaginal prefiguration. Our results highlight that neither desire thinking nor FoMO are inherently dysfunctional but become problematic when they increase craving for potentially problematic SNS use.

Family Matters More Than Friends on Problematic Social Media Use Among Adolescents: Mediating Roles of Resilience and Loneliness

Problematic social media use (PSMU) among adolescents has raised global concern in the current digital age. Despite the important role of perceived social support in adolescents' PSMU has been examined, possible different influences between perceived support from family and friends are still unknown. To address the gap, the present study aimed to examine how perceived support from family and friends is associated differently with PSMU and the mediating roles of resilience and loneliness therein. A sample of 1056 adolescents was recruited to complete standard questionnaires. Mediation analysis showed that resilience and loneliness mediated this association partially between perceived support from family and PSMU but totally between perceived support from friends and PSMU. Further, ANOVA-based analysis showed that influences of perceived support from family and friends on PSMU were mutually independent, and there was no interaction between them. Our results not only highlight different and independent impacts of perceived support from family and friends on PSMU, but also clarify the mediating mechanisms linking perceived social support to adolescent PSMU.

Problematic social media use is statistically predicted by using social media for coping motives and by positive reinforcement processes in individuals with high COVID-19-related stress levels

It is important to understand the relationship between stress and problematic use of social media (PUSM). However, no study to our knowledge has yet investigated the longitudinal relationship between perceived stress and PUSM via positive and negative reinforcement processes. The present study investigated relationships between COVID-19-pandemic-related stress and PUSM and possible moderating effects of motives for using social media (positive and/or negative reinforcement) during and following a COVID-19-pandemic-related lockdown. Six-hundred-and-sixty participants initially completed a survey including self-report measures of PUSM, COVID-19-pandemic-related stress, and motives for using social media (i.e., for negative reinforcement involving coping and conformity or positive reinforcements involving enhancement and social motives). During the COVID-19 outbreak recovery period, 117 participants again completed the survey. Bayesian analyses revealed that PUSM was associated with higher COVID-19-pandemic-related stress levels and use of social media for coping, conformity, and enhancement purposes. Longitudinally, PUSM symptom worsening was associated with increased use of social media for coping motives regardless of levels of perceived stress. Use of social media for conformity and enhancement purposes moderated relationships between stress levels during lockdown and PUSM symptoms worsening after lockdown. Our findings corroborate the hypothesis that negative reinforcement processes may be key factors in PUSM symptom worsening regardless of perceived stress. Concurrently, high levels of stress may worsen PUSM through positive reinforcement processes.

Internet-Based Self-Assessment for Symptoms of Internet Use Disorder-Impact of Gender, Social Aspects, and Symptom Severity: German Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Internet use disorder (IUD) is a new type of behavioral addiction in the digital age. At the same time, internet applications and eHealth can also provide useful support in medical treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine if an internet-based eHealth service can reach individuals with IUD. In particular, it should be investigated whether both male and female individuals with more severe IUDs can be reached.

METHODS

Data were retrieved from the OMPRIS (online-based motivational intervention to reduce problematic internet use and promote treatment motivation in internet gaming disorder and internet use disorder) project (DRKS00019925), an internet-based motivational intervention to reduce problematic internet use and promote treatment motivation in internet gaming disorder and IUD. During the recruitment process (August 2020-March 2022), a total of 3007 individuals filled out the standardized scale for the assessment of internet and computer game addiction (AICA-S). The assessment was accessible via the project homepage. There was no preselection of participants at this stage of the study; however, the offer was addressed to people with hazardous internet use and IUDs. The web-based assessment was free and could be found via search engines, but attention was also drawn to the service via newspaper articles, radio reports, and podcasts.

RESULTS

Out of 3007 who participated in the web-based self-assessment, 1033 (34.4%) are female, 1740 (57.9%) are male, 67 (2.2%) are diverse individuals, and 167 (5.5%) did not disclose their gender. The IUD symptom severity score showed a wide range between the AICA-S extreme values of 0 and 27 points. On average, the total sample (mean 8.19, SD 5.47) was in the range of hazardous IUD behavior (AICA-S cutoff>7.0). Furthermore, 561 individuals (18.7% of the total sample; mean 17.42, SD 3.38) presented severe IUD (AICA-S cutoff>13.5). Focusing on female and male participants, 20.9% (363/1740) of the men and 14.9% (151/1033) of the women scored above 13.5 points, which can be considered pathological IUD behavior (χ²_2,2773=16.73, P<.001, effect size: Cramér V=0.078). Unemployment, being in vocational training or studying at a university, and being male were significantly associated with high IUD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a large sample, the study showed that both mildly and severely IUD-affected individuals can be reached via the internet. An internet-based eHealth offer can thus be a good way to reach patients with IUD where they are addicted-on the internet. In addition, eHealth services increase the likelihood of reaching female patients, who hardly ever come to specialized outpatient clinics and hospitals. Since social problems, especially unemployment, have a strong association with disease severity, the integration of social counseling into treatment seems advisable in terms of a multidisciplinary approach.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00019925; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00019925.

Differential Effects of Active Social Media Use on General Trait and Online-Specific State-FoMO: Moderating Effects of Passive Social Media Use

Purpose

Given the prevalence of the fear of missing out (FoMO) phenomenon and the limitations regarding understanding the relationship between social media use and FoMO, this research examines the links that bind different types of social media usage to different aspects of FoMO.

Methods

In the scope of this research, a structural equation modeling was developed to investigate the intricate connections that exist between active social media use (ASMU), passive social media use (PSMU), online-specific state-FoMO, and general trait-FoMO. Data were obtained from 394 Chinese university students (65% female) with experience in social media who completed the Active Social Media Use Scale, Passive Social Media Use Scale, and the Chinese Trait-State Fear of Missing Out Scale.

Results

Bivariate correlations analysis revealed that ASMU was significantly related with state-FoMO but not significantly related with trait-FoMO. Structural equation modeling revealed that ASMU had a significant direct negative predictive effect on trait-FoMO while positive association with trait-FoMO through the indirect effect of State-FoMO, illustrating that ASMU had a suppressing effect on trait-FoMO via state-FoMO. PSMU significantly moderated the direct effect of ASMU on trait-FoMO, and the direct effect was only significant at low levels of PSMU.

Conclusion

This study revealed whether and how social media use is linked to FoMO. Social media may not always increase FoMO, because positive, active social media interactions are conducive to the alleviation of trait-FoMO. However, it is significant to note that active interactions may also predict higher state-FoMO, so moderate social media use needs to be encouraged. In addition, a reduction in passive, non-communicative information browsing would be conducive to the alleviation of trait-FoMO by ASMU.

Fear learning and generalization during pandemic fear: How COVID-19-related anxiety affects classical fear conditioning with traumatic film clips

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted our daily lives. Worldwide, people were confronted with health, financial, and existential fears or trauma-like experiences. Recent studies have identified an increase in stress, anxiety, and fear symptoms in connection with the pandemic. Furthermore, fear learning processes are central mechanisms in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Patients commonly show impairments not only in fear learning but also in its generalization. Thus, pandemic-related anxiety may constitute a risk factor for both enhanced fear acquisition and generalization. In a pre-registered online study with a final sample of 220 healthy university students, we investigated whether participants with higher COVID-19-related anxiety (COVID-Anxiety) show impaired fear learning and generalization. For this purpose, we used a differential fear conditioning paradigm with a traumatic film clip as the unconditioned stimulus (US) and collected US-expectancy as the main measure of interest. Participants with high COVID-Anxiety show a tendency toward poorer discrimination between the reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS+) and the unreinforced conditioned stimulus (CS-) during acquisition and significantly poorer discrimination patterns during generalization. Furthermore, participants with high COVID-Anxiety show greater general fear throughout the whole experiment. Our results show that the subjective effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological well-being are associated with impairments in both fear learning and fear generalization. As expected, high COVID-Anxiety leads to poorer performance in stimulus discrimination and greater levels of fear, which might contribute to a higher risk of anxiety disorders. GERMAN CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTER: DRKS00022761.

The relationship between COVID-19-related restrictions and fear of missing out, problematic smartphone use, and mental health in college students: The moderated moderation effect of resilience and social support

As one of the groups most affected by the epidemic, the mental health of college students during the epidemic is a focus of attention in multiple fields. Based on resource conservation theory, this study investigates the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on college students' problematic smartphone use and mental health from two perspectives, students' individual factors and external environmental factors, and specifically explores the role of fear of missing out (FoMO), resilience and social support in this context. This study used a questionnaire method, and to control for common method bias, a multitemporal data collection strategy was used. The study used online questionnaire distribution, the final sample included 975 Chinese college students (497 males and 478 females), and of these, 10.3% were freshmen, 31.9% were sophomores, 31.6% were juniors, 12.3% were seniors, and 13.9% were postgraduates. The results of this study showed the following: (1) Perceived COVID-19-related strain was positively correlated with perceived FoMO, problematic smartphone use and mental health problems (depression, anxiety, stress) among college students. (2) FoMO partially mediated the relationship between perceived COVID-19-related restrictions and problematic smartphone use, and it fully mediated the relationship between perceived COVID-19-related restrictions and mental health problems. (3) Resilience and social support co-moderated the relationship between FoMO and problematic smartphone use or mental health problems (depression, anxiety, stress).

Internet use and internet-based addictive behaviours during coronavirus pandemic

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The COVID-19 outbreak profoundly influenced human lives on different levels. This narrative review aims to present recent data relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and internet use and internet-based addictive behaviours [problematic Internet use (PIU), Internet addiction, Internet gaming disorder, problem gambling or gambling disorder, social media addiction including smartphone use disorder, problematic pornography use, and compulsive buying].

RECENT FINDINGS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of Internet use and Internet-based addictive behaviours increased in all age groups. The COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures were been associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population, especially among children and adolescents, which are the vulnerable groups for the development of mental disorders during the crisis. Furthermore, the fear resulting from the disease, the 'lockdown' measures, high levels of uncertainty regarding the future, and financial insecurity increased levels of loneliness, PIU, and Internet addiction.

SUMMARY

Longitudinal researches focused on the negative impacts of Internet use in prolonged stress situations on mental health, vulnerable groups, and quality of life (QoL) are needed to help clinicians and policymakers to reduce adverse consequences. Prevention programs for Internet use and Internet-based addictive behaviours must be customized to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and adults. Also, treatment programs must be tailored to the needs of patients with different Internet-based addictions.

Decision Making and Risk Propensity in Individuals with Tendencies towards Specific Internet-Use Disorders

The uncontrolled use of specific Internet applications is increasingly recognized as a mental health issue. Gaming disorder, which is one subtype of specific Internet-use disorders (sIUDs), has been included in the ICD-11 as disorder due to addictive behaviors. Addictive disorders are assumed to be accompanied by cognitive deficits as indicated by weaker performance in executive function and risky decision-making tasks. This study investigates risky decision-making in individuals with tendencies towards sIUDs including gaming, online buying-shopping, and social-networks-use disorders. A total of 293 individuals participated in the study. Based on specific screening instruments, the participants were assigned to a group with tendencies towards sIUD or a control group. Participants completed a risky decision-making task and questionnaires assessing risk-taking propensity, impulsivity, psychopathology, and perceived stress. The group with sIUD tendencies showed higher attentional impulsivity and higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to the control group. The groups did not differ in decision making and risk propensity. Decision making did not have significant effects on sIUD symptoms. Risk for developing sIUDs does not appear to be accompanied by altered general decision-making tendencies. Rather, psychological (pre-)load and attentional deficits appear to be relevant features in uncontrolled use of the Internet.