Tell me more: relationships between fear of missing out, distress and flourishing. A study in 21 countries

Abstract

The desire to stay informed about others’ activities and the aversion to missing information shared on social media have become increasingly prominent in contemporary society. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of personal characteristics in the relationship between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), psychological distress, and flourishing. A sample of 6,403 participants (65.6% female; M = 25.92, SD = 9.78) was recruited from 21 countries, including Belarus, Brazil, China, Croatia, Ecuador, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the UK, Ukraine, and the USA. The study employed several validated instruments, including the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOs), the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Brief Self-Control Scale, the Loneliness Scale, the Relationship Assessment Scale, the Flourishing Scale, and Kessler’s K6. Both positive and negative models of the relationship between FoMO, distress, and flourishing were tested, and path analyses were conducted to explore the mediating roles of self-control, loneliness, self-esteem, and satisfaction with relationships in the associations between FoMO, distress, and flourishing. The results revealed that the relationship between FoMO and distress was mediated by self-control and loneliness, while the association between FoMO and flourishing was mediated by self-esteem and satisfaction with relationships. These findings suggest a dual nature of FoMO: while the desire to stay informed may contribute positively to well-being, it is also linked to negative emotions, such as fear. The results are discussed within the context of existing literature, with consideration of their potential clinical implications.