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

Rocco Servidio; Paolo Soraci; Mark D Griffiths; Stefano Boca; Zsolt Demetrovics

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536

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

Rocco Servidio, Paolo Soraci, Mark D Griffiths, Stefano Boca, Zsolt Demetrovics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

139 Downloads (Pure)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	100536
Number of pages	8
Journal	Addictive Behaviors Reports
Volume	19
Early online date	11 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536
Publication status	Published - Jun 2024
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Fear of missing out
Mediation analysis
Problematic social media use
Self-esteem
Social comparison

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10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Final published versionFinal published version, 661 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Fear of missing out and problematic social media use: A serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem",

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.",

keywords = "Fear of missing out, Mediation analysis, Problematic social media use, Self-esteem, Social comparison",

author = "Rocco Servidio and Paolo Soraci and Griffiths, {Mark D} and Stefano Boca and Zsolt Demetrovics",

year = "2024",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100536",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

journal = "Addictive Behaviors Reports",

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T2 - A serial mediation model of social comparison and self-esteem

AU - Servidio, Rocco

AU - Soraci, Paolo

AU - Griffiths, Mark D

AU - Boca, Stefano

AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt

PY - 2024/6

Y1 - 2024/6

N2 - 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.

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

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