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NAME : MUHAMMAD YAZID BIN ADNAN

MATRICS NUMBER : 2025158951

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Why you should say no to FOMO, according to an expert

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Everyone experiences FOMO, or the fear of missing out. But instead of letting it negatively affect your life, we talked to the experts for how to say no to FOMO, and ways to overcome the feeling of missing out.

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FOMO or Fear of Missing Out: How does it affect our mental health and what can we do about it?

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FOMO o miedo a perderse algo: ¿Cómo afecta a nuestra salud mental y qué podemos hacer al respecto? - Adultos - Sinews Multilingual Therapy Institute

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NAME : AMIRAH SYAFIAH BINTI YAHYA

MATRICS NUMBER : 2025306711

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What Is FOMO? Understanding the Fear of Missing Out

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Discover how FOMO influences your choices and well-being. Learn to navigate its effects and make more intentional decisions. Read the article now!

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FOMO, or "fear of missing out," is a real phenomenon that is becoming increasingly common and can cause significant stress in your life. It can affect just about anyone, but some people are at greater risk.

Here is what you should know about the history of FOMO, what research says, how to recognize it in your life, and how to manage FOMO to keep it from negatively affecting your happiness.

What Is FOMO?

The fear of missing out refers to the feeling or perception that others are having more fun, living better lives, or experiencing better things than you are. It involves a deep sense of envy and affects self-esteem. It is often exacerbated by social media sites like Instagram and Facebook.

It can apply to anything from a party on a Friday night to a promotion at work, but it always involves a sense of helplessness that you are missing out on something big.

Brief History of FOMO

The idea that you might be missing out on a good time is not new to our era. However, while it has presumably been around for centuries (you can see evidence of FOMO in ancient texts), it has only been studied during the past few decades, beginning with a 1996 research paper by marketing strategist, Dr. Dan Herman, who coined the term "fear of missing out."

Since the advent of social media, however, FOMO has become more obvious and has been studied more often. Social media has accelerated the FOMO phenomenon in several ways. It provides a situation in which you are comparing your regular life to the highlights of others' lives.

Therefore, your sense of "normal" becomes skewed and you seem to be doing worse than your peers. You might see detailed photos of your friends enjoying fun times without you, which is something that people may not have been so readily aware of in past generations.

Social media creates a platform for bragging; it is where things, events, and even happiness itself seems to be in competition at times. People are comparing their best, picture-perfect experiences, which may lead you to wonder what you are lacking.

Research on FOMO

As more research on FOMO is conducted and becomes available, we are getting a clearer picture of what it entails and how it affects us. The picture is not pretty, as there are many negative effects of FOMO, and it is more common than you might expect. Consider the following:

Social Networking Sites

Unsurprisingly, adolescents use social networking sites at a high rate and may experience FOMO as a result. Interestingly, however, FOMO acts as a mechanism that triggers higher social networking usage.

Girls experiencing depression tend to use social networking sites at a greater rate while, for boys, anxiety was a trigger for greater social media use. This shows that increased use of social media can lead to higher stress rates caused by FOMO.

FOMO, Age, and Gender

FOMO can be experienced by people of all ages, several studies have found. One study in the Psychiatry Research journal found that the fear of missing out was linked to a greater smartphone and social media usage and that this link was not associated with age or gender.

The research also found that both social media use and "problematic" smartphone usage was linked with a greater experience of FOMO. Smartphone usage was related to fears of negative and even positive evaluations by others as well as linked to negative effects on mood.

Life Satisfaction Rating

Another article published in Computers and Human Behavior found several trends associated with FOMO. Fear of missing out was found to be associated with a lower sense of having one's needs met as well as a lower feeling of life satisfaction in general.

FOMO was heavily linked to higher engagement in social media, as other studies have suggested-it appears that FOMO is linked to both feeling a need to engage in social media and increasing that engagement. This means that FOMO and social media habits may contribute to a negative, self-perpetuating cycle.

Potential Dangers of FOMO

Aside from increased feelings of unhappiness, fear of missing out can lead to greater involvement in unhealthy behaviors. For example, the same study in Computers and Human Behavior found that FOMO was linked to distracted driving, which in some cases can be deadly.

Minimizing FOMO

Fortunately, steps can be taken to curb your FOMO if it is something you experience.

In turn, greater engagement with social media can make us feel worse about ourselves and our lives, not better. In this way, it helps to know that our attempts to alleviate feelings of FOMO can actually lead to behaviors that exacerbate it. ​Understanding where the problem lies, however, can be a great first step in overcoming it. The following can help.

Change Your Focus

Rather than focusing on what you lack, try noticing what you have. This is easier said than done on social media, where we may be bombarded with images of things we do not have, but it can be done. Add more positive people to your feed; hide people who tend to brag too much or who are not supportive of you.

You can change your feed to show you less of what triggers your FOMO and more of what makes you feel good about yourself. Work on identifying what may be sapping your joy online. Work to minimize these as you add more to your feed (and life) that makes you happy.

Keep a Journal

It is common to post on social media to keep a record of the fun things you do. However, you may find yourself noticing a little too much about whether people are validating your experiences online. If this is the case, you may want to take some of your photos and memories offline and keep a personal journal of your best memories, either online or on paper.

Keeping a journal can help you to shift your focus from public approval to private appreciation of the things that make your life great. This shift can sometimes help you to get out of the cycle of social media and FOMO.

Seek Out Real Connections

You may find yourself seeking a greater connection when you are feeling depressed or anxious, and this is healthy. Feelings of loneliness or exclusion are actually our brain's way of telling us that we want to seek out greater connections with others and increase our sense of belonging.

Unfortunately, social media engagement is not always the way to accomplish this-you might be running from one bad situation right into an even worse one. Rather than trying to connect more with people on social media, why not arrange to meet up with someone in person?

Making plans with a good friend, creating a group outing, or doing anything social that gets you out with friends can be a nice change of pace, and it can help you to shake that feeling that you are missing out. It puts you in the center of the action.

If you do not have time to make plans, even a direct message on social media to a friend can foster a greater and more intimate connection than posting to all of your friends and hoping for "likes."

Focus on Gratitude

Studies show that engaging in gratitude-enhancing activities like gratitude journaling or simply telling others what you appreciate about them can lift your spirits as well as those of everyone around you.

This is partially because it is harder to feel as if you lack the things you need in life when you are focused on the abundance you already have. It also holds true because making others feel good makes us feel good.

A lift in mood may be just what you need to relieve yourself of feeling depressed or anxious. You likely will not feel as tempted to go down the rabbit hole of social networking and FOMO when you realize how much you already have. You will begin to feel that you have what you need in life and so do other people. This can be wonderful for your mental and emotional health.

A Word From Verywell

Although FOMO is strongly correlated with social media usage, it is important to remember that it is a very real and common feeling among people of all ages. Everyone feels a certain level of FOMO at different times in their lives.

If you feel you are suffering from feelings of missing out, it can be helpful to reach out to a friend or spend some time reflecting on the things you are grateful for in your life. Activities like these can help us put things in perspective as we gather a greater sense of belonging and release the anxiety of "missing out" on anything.

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FOMO, or "fear of missing out," is a real phenomenon that is becoming increasingly common and can cause significant stress in your life. It can affect just about anyone, but some people are at greater risk.

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Thank you for state your opinion. However, I beg to differ, as I believe FOMO does have a significant impact on our daily lives, particularly in the age of social media. FOMO is a harmful and widespread psychological experience driven by social media.

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- FOMO causes stress, anxiety, emotional burnout, and low life satisfaction

(HelloGiggles, SINEWS)

- Fueled by unrealistic portrayals of perfect lives on social media (SINEWS, HelloGiggles)

- Rooted in social comparison and the human desire to belong (HelloGiggles, SINEWS)

- Leads to compulsive phone use, poor sleep, procrastination, reduced concentration (SINEWS)

- Can result in mobile phone addiction and withdrawal from real-life connections (SINEWS)

- Can be managed through: limiting social media time, shifting mindset, practicing gratitude, and engaging in fulfilling offline activities (HelloGiggles, SINEWS)

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While FOMO may be harmful, it is also crucial to acknowledge that it is an ordinary aspect of being human. Everyone, at some time, feels the urge to belong or the fear of losing out, especially in a socially linked society. Furthermore, social media is not necessarily negative. When used carefully and intentionally, technology may provide beneficial benefits such as staying in touch with loved ones, finding new ideas, and accessing useful information. As both SINEWS and HelloGiggles point out, it's not about avoiding social media entirely, but about understanding how it impacts us and using it in a balanced, educated way.

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NUR ZULAIKA BINTI MOHD KAMARUL AZLAN

2025146969

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BMC Psychology 11, Article number: 141 (2023) Cite this article

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Abstract

Background

Depression, anxiety, and stress are the main issues that affect the mental health of individuals. Solitude behavior, fear of missing out, and mental health are all closely related.

Objective

This study was intended to investigate the relationship between solitude behavior, fear of missing out, and mental health.

Methods

Short Form of Solitude Behavior Scale, Fear of Missing Out scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 were employed in this study to investigate 616 college students. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 for basic data organization, and Mplus 8.3 was used to complete the analysis of the mediation model.

Results

(1) Positive solitude was positively associated with eccentricity and negatively related to loneliness; social avoidance positively correlated with eccentricity and loneliness. (2) Social avoidance and loneliness affected mental health through the mediating effect of fear of missing out, whereas positive solitude and eccentricity did not affect mental health through fear of missing out. Moreover, the results still held in the model with depression, anxiety, and stress as dependent variables.

Conclusion

The roles of different solitude behavior in the relationship between fear of missing out and mental health differed. Social avoidance and loneliness as not self-determined solitude could activate the fear of missing out, which could affect mental health.

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Introduction

Anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health issues have gradually become more prominent due to society's accelerated pace and fiercer competition in various fields. A survey showed that 14.97% of Chinese adults suffered the high-risk psychological disorders [ 1]. In recent years, mental health issues have caught much attention and become a long focus in psychological research. Poor mental health can cause a series of effects, such as physical health problems, interpersonal problems, cognitive states, and even extreme behaviors such as suicide [ 2, 3, 4, 5]. Therefore, researchers have concentrated on figuring out the psychological mechanisms underlying mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as their causes. This has helped to advance the creation of effective therapeutic strategies.

A robust impact on mental health by fear of missing out (FoMO) was verified by many researchers recently [ 6, 7]. FoMO is a diffuse anxiety that occurs when individuals fear missing out on the positive experiences of others [ 8, 9]. Numerous research has discovered a connection between mental health and FoMO. For example, FoMO was positively correlated with depression and anxiety [ 6, 10] and significantly predicted stress [ 11]. Individuals with high levels of FoMO were more likely to suffer from alcohol abuse [ 12] and sleep disorders [ 13]. FoMO also decreased well-being [ 14] and life satisfaction [ 9]. Overall, existing research consistently shows that FoMO has a negative impact on mental health.

With the deepening of FoMO research, solitude behavior as a strong predictor of FoMO was discussed [ 15]. Chen et al. proposed that solitude behavior refers to a state in which individuals have no information and emotional communication with others when they are conscious [ 16]. Dhir et al. argued that individuals with FoMO always expect to be aware of the activities of others on a continuous basis [ 17]. It can be assumed that individuals in solitude are more likely to have a high FoMO. This has been confirmed by previous research, with Lai et al. finding that individuals with higher levels of loneliness had more severe FoMO on important information [ 18]. Bernard and Barry & Wong both found a significant relationship between loneliness and FoMO [ 13, 19]. Cheng also pointed out that loneliness had a direct positive predictive effect on the FoMO in an adolescent study [ 20]. Thus, this means that solitude behavior may activate the FoMO. Combined with the fact that FoMO negatively affects mental health, it was logical to assume that there may be a mediating mechanism from solitude behavior to FoMO and then to mental health.

Although existing studies have shown an association between solitude and FoMO, a review of existing research reveals that the increased FoMO in solitary individuals is primarily associated with increased feelings of loneliness. The motivation for solitude as an episodic behavior may vary widely. Nicol divided solitude behavior into self-determined solitude and non-self-determined solitude [ 21]. Chen et al. suggested that solitude behavior can include four types of behaviors resulting from different causes or motivations, namely positive solitude, eccentricity, social avoidance, and loneliness [ 16]. Positive solitude refers to the ability to enjoy independent activities. Eccentricity is a personality trait in which people feel comfortable being alone and usually fail to maintain good interpersonal relationships with others. Differing from positive solitude, eccentricity is sometimes accompanied by passive solitude. For social avoidance, interpersonal scenarios make individuals feel fearful and anxious, so they choose to avoid social situations to alleviate negative emotions. Loneliness is a subjective experience that arises when interpersonal needs cannot be met and often produces negative experiences when alone. Positive solitude and eccentricity are self-determined, whereas social avoidance and loneliness are non-self-determined. Lu et al. found that individuals could have four solitude behaviors at the same time, only the high and low levels of the four solitudes differ [ 22]. It was evident that solitude behaviors have complex motivational components, and the relationship between these complex components and fear of missing out and mental health remains unclear.

According to the Self-Determination Theory, the healthy development of individuals depended on the satisfaction of three basic needs: autonomy needs, competence needs, and relatedness needs. Among them, Relatedness needs refer to those needs that are satisfied by establishing social relationships with others [ 23]. FoMO occurred when an individual's interpersonal needs were not met [ 8, 24]. The study found that frequent use of social media kept people in a constant state of connectedness, which in turn increased the FoMO [ 24]. Milyavskaya et al. noted that FoMO that arose when individuals carried out activities with other people was lower than individuals interacted with their natural environment [ 11]. FoMO may increase if association with others cannot be maintained. Accordingly, this study hypothesized that individuals who exhibited solitude may have higher levels of FoMO when non-self-determined solitude was dominant, and conversely no association with FoMO when self-determined solitude was dominant.

In summary, this study intended to investigate three main questions: (1) how solitude behavior was related to FoMO and mental health; (2) whether FoMO played a mediating role in the relationship between solitude behavior and mental health; and (3) whether there were differences in the effects of the four different types of solitude on mental health through FoMO.

Method

Participants and procedure

This study recruited 616 college and graduate students from a university in Tianjin, China, to complete questionnaires. Convenience sampling was conducted. The mean age of the study population was 19.82 years (SD = 2.23), with 114 males and 494 females (eight participants did not report their gender). There were 273 (44.3%) freshmen, 144 (23.4%) sophomores, 56 (9.1%) junior students, 21 (3.4%) senior students, 112 (18.2%) first-year graduate students, 4 other grades, and six participants did not report their grade. The estimated sample size to detect a mediated effect with power of 0.80 is estimated to be 462 [ 25]. This study included 616 participants and it could be sufficient to detect the predicted effects. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 for basic data organization, and Mplus 8.3 was used to complete the analysis of the mediation model. Pearson correlation was conducted to examine the correlations between all main variables. The primary analysis of the mediation model method was path analysis with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation. The bootstrap method, which repeatedly draws random samples from the original data with replacement, was used to evaluate the mediation effect. We used 5000 bootstrap resamples for this analysis to compute the 95% confidence intervals. Confidence intervals were then tested for significance by examining whether or not they contained zero.

Measurement

The Short Form of Solitude Behavior Scale (SBS-S) was used to assess participants' solitude behavior in a 16-item scale consisting of four dimensions: positive solitude, eccentricity, social avoidance, and loneliness [ 26]. Each dimension has 4 items and is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 "strongly disagree" to 5 "strongly agree"). Some example items were "I sometimes like to read and think alone", "I like to be alone and have little interest in other people", "I usually feel uncomfortable when I'm with a group of people I don't know", "I feel lonely when no one is with me". The Cronbach αs of the scale in this study was 0.81, and the Cronbach αs of each dimension ranged from 0.82 to 0.88.

The fear of Missing Out scale (FoMOs) was used to assess participants' FoMO [ 9]. This is a 10-item scale containing only one dimension on a 5-point scale (1 "strongly disagree" to 5 "strongly agree"). One example item was "I fear others have more rewarding experiences than me". The Cronbach α of the scale in this study was 0.79.

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to assess participants' mental health in a 21-item scale consisting of three dimensions: depression, anxiety, and stress [ 27]. Each dimension has 7 items and is rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 "extremely unlikely" to 4 "always meet"). Some example items were "I was aware of dryness of my mouth", "I found it hard to wind down", and "I couldn't experience positive feeling". The Cronbach αs of the scale in this study was 0.93, and the Cronbach αs of each dimension ranged from 0.78 to 0.87.

Result

Correlation analysis result among all variable

In this study, the data were tested for common method variance using Harman's Single-Factor Test, and there were nine factors with an eigenvalue greater than 1, and the first factor only accounted for 26.07% (less than 40% of the total variation), so there was no significant CMV exists.

According to the results generated from the correlation shown in Table 1. Positive relationships were found between FoMO and mental health, depression, anxiety, and stress. Similarly, FoMO was significantly and positively related to solitude behavior, social avoidance, and loneliness. In addition, the correlation between positive solitude and eccentricity ( r = 0.20) was significant; the correlation between social avoidance and loneliness ( r  = 0.45) was significant.

Table 1 Descriptive statistics and correlations for the study variables

The role of solitude behavior in the relationship between FoMO and mental health

Based on the hypotheses of this study, we constructed mediation models using positive solitude, eccentricity, social avoidance, and loneliness as independent variables, FoMO as mediating variables, and mental health as the dependent variable, and the model results were shown in Fig. 1. Since the mediation models in this study were all saturated models, no further model fit indicators were reported. The results indicated that positive solitude negatively predicted mental health; while eccentricity, social avoidance, loneliness, and FoMO positively predicted mental health. In addition, social avoidance and loneliness were significant predictors of FoMO.

The Role of Solitude Behavior in the Relationship between FoMO and Mental Health

The dashed line indicated that the path coefficient was not significant, and the solid line indicated that the path coefficient was significant.

The Bootstrap method with 5000 samples was used to examine the mediation effects, and the results showed that the mediation effects of social avoidance and loneliness in predicting mental health through FoMO accounted for 19.23% and 28.10% of the total effect, respectively, and the 95% confidence interval for each mediating pathway did not contain 0. While positive solitude and eccentricity could not predict mental health through FoMO (see Table 2).

Table 2 The mediation effect of FoMO between solitude behaviors and mental health

The role of solitude behavior in the relationship between FoMO and depression anxiety, and stress

The results of the above mediation model suggested that different solitude behaviors play different roles in the relationship between FoMO and mental health. To further understand the role of solitude behaviors and FoMO in different types of mental health problems, this study analyzed depression, anxiety, and stress as dependent variables, and the results of the model were shown in Fig. 2. The results showed that positive solitude negatively predicted depression and stress; social avoidance positively predicted anxiety and stress. Eccentricity, loneliness, and FoMO all positively predicted depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition, consistent with the results obtained previously, FoMO was positively associated with social avoidance and loneliness.

The Role of Solitude Behavior in the Relationship between FoMO and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

The Bootstrap method with 5000 samples was used to examine the mediation effects, and the results showed that the mediation effects of social avoidance and loneliness in predicting depression through FoMO accounted for 30.93% and 27.01% of the total effect, in predicting anxiety through FoMO accounted for 16.84% and 32.11% of the total effect, in predicting stress through FoMO accounted for 18.81% and 20.06% of the total effect. The 95% confidence interval for each mediated pathway did not contain 0. And positive solitude and eccentricity did not predict depression, anxiety, and stress through FoMO (see Table 3).

Table 3 The mediation effect of FoMO between solitude behaviors and depression, anxiety, and stress

Discussion

The current study explored the relationship between solitude behaviors, FoMO, and mental health. Revealing the mechanism of the role of FoMO under the influence of solitude behavior, which had important implications for the promotion of mental health.

Different associations among four types of solitude behaviors were explored in this study. The results indicated that positive solitude was positively associated with eccentricity, and social avoidance was positively associated with loneliness. These results were consistent with previous research suggesting that positive solitude and eccentricity were self-determined solitude; social avoidance and loneliness were non-self-determined solitude [ 16]. Consistent with previous literature [ 28], our findings also observed eccentricity as a positive predictor of social avoidance. It may be that although eccentricity was a self-determining attribute, it was frequently one of the most prominent pre-morbid characteristics of schizophrenia, involving negative aspects [ 29]. People who exhibited this tendency frequently had trouble maintaining healthy relationships with others, preferred to live alone, and often refused to talk with others [ 16]. Eccentricity was thought to reflect both a lack of interest in engagement and the active avoidance of social interaction opportunities. Eccentricity and social avoidance frequently removed them from opportunities to engage in social interaction, and mainly reflected the negative sides of psychological characteristics. According to previous studies, a form of active social isolation called hikikomori has been frequently combined with avoidance of social interactions and withdrawal behavior [ 30, 31]. Furthermore, the results showed that positive solitude was negatively associated with loneliness. The positive solitude satisfied higher psychological needs (e.g., self-improvement, meditation) and received positive emotional experiences in the solitary state; the loneliness was dissatisfied with the current stage of interpersonal relationships and desired to establish interpersonal relationships with others, which led to interpersonal needs, so it was logical to understand that the negative association between them [ 32, 33].

Noteworthily, the current study found that social avoidance and loneliness, non-self-determined solitude, predicted mental health through FoMO, which was consistent with the hypothesis. While positive solitude and eccentricity, self-determined solitude, did not predict mental health through FoMO. Additionally, the results still held in the model with depression, anxiety, and stress as dependent variables. This observation hinted at an important point that social avoidance was essentially the fear of ridicule and embarrassment caused by making mistakes in interpersonal interactions [ 34]. Despite a desire to engage with others, this temperamental trait caused social withdrawal due to social fears. There were some previous studies suggest that social avoidance has been linked to unpleasant experiences [ 35, 36]. To alleviate this negative emotion, individuals tended to avoid interacting with others. Loneliness was a negative experience that arose when individuals were alone and were dissatisfied with the quality or quantity of social relationships [ 37]. Whether social avoidance or loneliness was dominant when their relatedness needs were not met, individuals still tended to internally approach and integrated with people, which in turn triggered the FoMO and harmed people's mental health. Conversely, the need for relatedness was low when actively choosing to be alone and therefore did not lead to FoMO and accompanying mental health problems. Results from the previous study indicated that self-determined solitude demonstrated a positive correlation with personal growth and self-acceptance, whereas not self-determined solitude showed negative correlations with these desirable outcome variables [ 38]. There was evidence suggesting that FoMO was related to less satisfaction with basic psychological needs, which was frequently connected to the emergence of internalizing issues [ 9]. It may be that self-determined solitude are more likely comfortable with solitude, allowing them to facilitate the basic human needs of relatedness, instead of serving to promote FoMO. Nguyen et al. found that self-determined solitude not only enhanced subjective well-being but also led to relaxation and stress relief [ 39]. Nelson also argued that while unsociable individuals showed greater levels of depression, relationships had fewer problems [ 40].

Although both social avoidance and loneliness predicted depression, anxiety, and stress through FoMO, some differences remained. And the results of the path showed that while social avoidance did not directly predict depression, it did directly predict stress and anxiety. Perhaps social avoidance is an avoidance type of anxiety that results from being nervous about social interaction [ 8]. Moreover, FoMO consistently played a partial mediation role in the association of loneliness with depression, anxiety, and stress. There may be psychological mechanisms other than FoMO in predicting loneliness on mental health. For example, Domènech-Abella et al. noted that among those who felt lonely, individuals with depression had a smaller social network [ 41]. Therefore, speculation on the relationship between the two needs to be further validated and explored in future studies.

As our model suggests, FoMO seemed to undermine mental health benefits, which might interfere with the quality of their psychological adjustment and daily life. FoMO's consequences could have negative long-term impacts on societal communication and well-being [ 42]. Effective interventions may need to concentrate on how non-self-determined solitude fuel such FoMO concerns. FoMO is a concept that explores the fear of social exclusion. Strengthening social connections and supports can both help individuals escape feelings of disconnectedness and offer opportunities for connecting with other people without having the feeling of missing out on something. Then the reduction of such negative experiences in turn improves mental health [ 43, 44]. It is potential for us to be concerned about individuals' experiences when interacting with their peers, in order to preempt their dissatisfaction, which has been linked to detrimental effects on FoMO, and subsequently created psychological disorders [ 42]. There were some limitations in this study. Aside from the solitude behaviors themselves, the personality characteristics of the samples need to be taken into account when examining the link between solitude behaviors and FoMO [ 45, 46]. Additionally, this study was a cross-sectional study, and future studies may consider using longitudinal studies to further validate our findings. It also would be important for future investigations to examine whether the relationship between self-determined solitude and mental health is moderated by other psychological functioning.

Conclusions

The roles of solitude behaviors in the relationship between FoMO and mental health differed. Social avoidance and loneliness affected mental health through the FoMO, whereas positive solitude and eccentricity did not. This study provided opportunities for researchers to learn about the possible factors that trigger mental health problems and revealed the mechanisms by which FoMO acted under the influence of solitude behaviors, with important implications for the promotion of mental health.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our thanks to all of the participants in the present study.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31800945).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China

Xinyang Liu, Tour Liu, Zhao Zhou & Fuyu Wan

2. Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China

Tour Liu

3. Tianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students' Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin, China

Tour Liu

Contributions

Study conception and design and draft manuscript preparation: Xinyang Liu, Tour Liu, Zhao Zhou, and Fuyu Wan. Data collection: Xinyang Liu, Zhao Zhou, and Fuyu Wan. Analysis and interpretation of results: Xinyang Liu and Tour Liu. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tour Liu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Normal University in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Liu, X., Liu, T., Zhou, Z. et al. The effect of fear of missing out on mental health: differences in different solitude behaviors. BMC Psychol 11, 141 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01184-5
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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The effect of fear of missing out on mental health: differences in different solitude behaviors - BMC Psychology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Background Depression, anxiety, and stress are the main issues that affect the mental health of individuals. Solitude behavior, fear of missing out, and mental health are all closely related. Objective This study was intended to investigate the relationship between solitude behavior, fear of missing out, and mental health.

# data[].attributes.body
While FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is often seen as something negative, the truth is, it can actually bring positive effects when we understand and use it in a healthy way. Rather than letting it control us, FOMO can be a powerful motivator in our daily lives.

Firstly, FOMO can boost our learning engagement,

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(SUPPORTING DETAILS)

According to a 2023 study in BMC Psychology, FOMO can push students to stay involved in academic discussions, attend events, and explore topics more deeply. It encourages active participation rather than passiveness. Instead of being left out, they want to stay involved. So FOMO pushes them to participate rather than just sit back and be passive.

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Honestly, I’ve seen this happen in real life too. When everyone’s talking about a certain topic in class or a lecturer recommends a talk or event, people don’t want to feel out of the loop. So, they’ll show up, take notes, and even join in discussions just to stay in the circle. That kind of motivation driven by not wanting to miss out can actually help students grow and improve. So in that sense, FOMO doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. Sometimes it works as a tool to keep us on our toes and push us to be more involved in our studies.

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From my point of view, FOMO isn’t something we should fear, it's something we can learn to understand and manage wisely. When channeled positively, FOMO can actually help us grow, learn new things, and stay socially connected. It doesn’t have to be about comparing ourselves to others or feeling left out all the time. Instead, it can be a push, a reminder to be more present, more involved, and more engaged in the life we’re living.

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. If we’re aware of how FOMO affects us, we can use it as motivation rather than pressure. So personally, I think FOMO can be a good thing as long as we don’t let it control us.

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NAME : NURUL AIN BINTI MD HASLIMIN

MATRICS NUMBER : 2025189495

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The fear of missing out (or FOMO) is the feeling of envy and insecurity you have when other people are having positive, exciting experiences in thei

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Thank you for all the brilliant opinions but here I beg to be different.

Many people think FOMO (fear of missing out) is always a bad thing because it can make us feel anxious, stressed, or compare ourselves to others. And while it's true that too much FOMO can be unhealthy, it's not always harmful. In fact, FOMO can sometimes be a good thing. It can motivate us to try new things, go after our goals, and take part in activities we might usually avoid. Instead of just making us feel left out, FOMO can push us to grow, explore new opportunities, and create more meaningful experiences in our lives.

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1. Staying Current and Informed
In today’s digital age, FOMO can be a healthy incentive to stay up‑to‑date on current events, trends, and innovations, also helping us to learn more and participate in meaningful conversations. (medium.com)

2. Building Stronger Social Connections
Rather than causing isolation, FOMO can actually encourage us to reach out to friends, organize events, and nurture meaningful relationships when we see others enjoying time together (medium.com)

3. Use FOMO as a tool
Let it push you toward experiences that matter, like joining a new group, learning a skill, or attending a meaningful event. (lifehacker.com)

4. Learn as you go
Every time you step outside your comfort zone, you learn more about yourself. Over time, this builds confidence and helps you decide whether to say yes or no in the next time. (lifehacker.com)

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FOMO is often seen as something negative, but it can actually be a powerful motivator when used wisely. Instead of causing stress, FOMO can inspire us to grow, try new things, and make meaningful choices. The key is to focus on experiences that truly matter to us, not just follow the crowd. When balanced, FOMO can lead to personal growth and better self-understanding.

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Sometimes the fear of missing out (FOMO) and all that Instagram stalking that goes with it, can actually be a good thing.

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We often think of FOMO as something that causes social comparison among peers. However, FOMO can actually be a social compass that helps build stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging.

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FOMO is sometimes thought of as loneliness or envy. It's the depressing sensation we get when we see friends hanging out without us or when people seem to be living their lives differently than we are. But according to HealthCentral, this emotional reaction isn’t just about comparison, but about the natural human need which is desire to belong. FOMO is our minds' way of expressing of wanting to be part of that.

We can interpret this emotion as a social cue that invites us to connect with others, join in, or reach out to them instead of seeing it as a flaw.  For example, if looking at pictures from a party makes you feel left out, you might be determined to message a friend, arrange a get-together, or accept the next invitation.  In this sense, FOMO encourages social interaction rather than isolation.

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According to GigaStar's article, FOMO can encourage proactive engagement in social as well as career and personal growth. In the  article, FOMO might make us more aware of the connections that are most important to us and encourage us to nurture them more mindfully.

FOMO can motivate us to actively participate in our communities, whether they be online, at school, or among our friends, rather than just passively observing others connect.  Additionally, when we respond to FOMO in a healthy way by making the decision to show up, engage, or reach out, w e feel less lonely and feel more like part of the group.

In summary, FOMO does not have to drive us apart. In fact, it can be the catalyst that brings us closer together.  We can use FOMO as a tool to establish better, more meaningful social connections in our life by understanding the emotional signals that drive it.

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NAME: ALYAA NAJWA BINTI ZULKERNAIN

MATRICS NUMBER: 2025147173

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NAME : NUR AINI SYAMILAH BINTI MOHAMED AZAHARI

MATRICS NUMBER : 2025124311

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In the late 1800s, postcards were the preferred way to brag about your summer travel. In the 1960s, these were replaced with slide carousels and projectors. A polite inquiry into a host's vacation over dinner might have resulted in hastily dimmed lights and an hourlong presentation. In the 1980s and '90s, Polaroids gave us instant access to memorable moments.

Today, social media continues to feed our need to live vicariously through others-except now we can tap into the lives of hundreds of other people whenever we want. It is easy for hours to slip by as we scroll through the lives of others. This is when we are most vulnerable to the sticky trap of FOMO: the fear of missing out.

In the beginning, FOMO is subtle. We may see an image of friends enjoying an activity together or of the perfect family taking the vacation we have always wanted. What we start to notice is that we are conspicuously absent from all the fun. Excluded even. Perhaps our posts do not get as many likes. We cannot help but compare and keep score. Before long, we are spending more time on social media with the intention of confirming our deepest insecurities.

As the summer travel season winds down, patients and clinicians alike could use a gentle reminder to question how we use social media and to put boundaries in place to resist the pitfalls of FOMO.
How FOMO Preys on Our Insecurities
According to a 2017 survey, 21% of individuals said they post vacation updates on social media just so they can show off. Another 10% do it to make others feel jealous. Not surprisingly, about 73% of those surveyed also said they find vacation posts annoying. ¹ Yet, we continue to post and engage.

FOMO is often associated with social media because it is linked to higher levels of engagement and problematic attachment. It can also be applied to other aspects of life outside of social media use. The term was first coined in 2004, when image-based platforms gave us a highly visual peek into people's lives. In 2013, FOMO was defined as a "pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent." ² It is associated with lack of sleep, reduced life competency, emotional tension, negatively affected physical well-being, anxiety, and a lack of emotional control (Table).

Of course, the feelings associated with FOMO existed long before social media. In fact, studies indicate that the same amount of FOMO occurs whether you hear about a missed event from a friend or from an online post. ³ It is natural to compare ourselves to others and even to experience envy. These feelings are deeply rooted in our need to belong and connect with others.

FOMO preys on low self-esteem, loneliness, and fear of social exclusion, and it can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. It is thought to trigger 2 processes: the feeling or perception that one is missing out and a compulsive desire to continually track what others are doing. A number of other theories are applied to FOMO. These include:

-Self-determination theory: This approach studies human motivation and personality. It suggests that each person is motivated by 3 innate psychological needs: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. When these are met, our self-motivation and mental health thrive. When they are not, our motivation and sense of well-being slack. ⁴

-Too many choices: Having lots of options seems like a good thing-until we start obsessing over whether we made the right decision. Did our choice make us miss out on something else? This theory is explored in psychologist Barry Schwartz's book, The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. "Learning to choose is hard," he writes. "Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still-perhaps too hard." ⁵

-Cybernetic process model: Our brains are constantly sizing up our options and comparing them to our goals or expectations for a situation. When these do not line up, we may feel uncomfortable. FOMO can distort this process and make it harder to accurately evaluate one's current situation. Rather than priorities important personal goals, we may pursue lesser and unhealthier priorities. In this case, nothing matches up, doubt descends, and you follow everyone else. ⁶

How much FOMO we experience is shaped by our negative life experiences and unmet social needs. We can feel FOMO as a single episode, a long-term disposition, or an overall state of mind. Untethered, it can lead to a deeper sense of social inferiority, loneliness, or rage. ²

Because FOMO is so closely tied to self, it touches upon many of our vulnerabilities. In adolescents with social anxiety, for example, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat shore up unmet social needs by allowing them to communicate in a way that avoids awkward face-to-face interaction. The ease of social media shuns the harder work of talking to people in person-unedited and unfiltered. Some may rely heavily on social media when seeking personal validation. ²

Upward comparisons are driven by the desire to attract higher likes and engagement. Not achieving this can spark frustration and rage and lead to a distorted sense of self and reward. ² Posts can become highly edited and filtered versions of reality. It is hard to remember that everyone experiences struggles when all you see are images of perfect bliss. Social media influencers set a high bar with stylized content geared to build audiences and sell products.

In fact, FOMO is a big reason people choose to follow influencers: They do not want to miss out. ⁷ Knowing this, social media platforms tailor content to keep you coming back for more. Cross-sectional studies indicate a strong correlation between internet addiction and affective, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. ⁸

Instagram has long been accused of knowingly stoking the flames of FOMO. Instagram's own internal research found that 66% of girls and 40% of boys have been confronted with negative social comparisons on the platform. ⁹

In a 2021 leak, former employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen said company officials knew of the app's danger to teens but did nothing to address it-even after researchers offered suggestions. Currently under investigation, Instagram's parent company Meta (formerly Facebook) has temporarily put on hold plans to launch Instagram Kids, an app directed at users aged 13 years and younger. ¹⁰

As social media grows and shifts in its ability to influence our lives, FOMO is virtually impossible to avoid-but that does not mean it cannot be controlled.
Ways to Reduce FOMO
The simplest solution to controlling FOMO is to limit, even eliminate, the amount of time spent on social media. One study indicated that limiting social media to 30 minutes a day significantly reduced FOMO and anxiety and increased overall well-being. ¹¹

Other actions include adopting a JOMO (joy of missing out) approach by focusing on contentment and satisfaction with who you are. Some of the tips include:

-Set a daily limit for your time on social media.

-Hit snooze. If seeing everyone's vacation photos pushes your buttons, remove or pause social media apps for a period of time.

-Clean your feed by periodically reviewing who and what you follow. Ask yourself how they make you feel. If it is negative, stop following them.

-Engage with friends in person. Social media will never replace the warmth and spontaneity of human contact.

-Explore why you feel FOMO and what triggers it. Confront your insecurities, work to accept shortcomings, and adapt accordingly.

-Establish clear goals for yourself. What is important to you?

-Avoid letting your emotions determine your behavior.

-Keep a journal to identify and examine unhelpful feelings.

-Remind yourself that you never know the challenges people are experiencing-even if they are always smiling.

-Instead of waiting around for an invitation, actively organize activities that make you happy with the people you enjoy.

-Make it a point to recognize and appreciate JOMO. Not hanging out with friends after work means you get more time to spend with your family at home.

-Practice gratitude to shift the focus on what you do have rather than what you do not.

-Practice mindfulness daily through meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises to keep yourself grounded in the present moment.

-Find joy in the simple things in life.

-Adopt a practical and problem-solving approach to FOMO with a list of solutions, should certain scenarios arise. For example, "If I am missing an event that triggers FOMO, I will call a friend and make plans."
Concluding Thoughts
FOMO is inevitable and something everyone will experience in some form at some point in their lives. Whether we let it shadow an occasional moment or let it overpower our lives depends on our resolve to focus on what makes us happy.

Happiness does not come from comparing ourselves, chasing perceived expectations, or even feeling superior to others. It is not the quantity but the quality of experiences that matters. Life's greatest joys are often found in the simplest of moments shared with people who truly know and love us.

Dr Parmar is a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health.
References
1. Sun, sea and selfies: has social media killed the holiday postcard? Aviva. June 20, 2017. Accessed Spetember 29, 2022. https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2017/06/uk-sun-sea-and-selfies-has-social-media-killed-the-holiday-postcard-17781/

2. Gupta M, Sharma A. Fear of missing out: a brief overview of origin, theoretical underpinnings and relationship with mental health. World J Clin Cases. 2021;9(19):4881-4889.

3. Hobson N. The science of FOMO and what we're really missing out on. Psychology Today. April 23, 2018. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ritual-and-the-brain/201804/the-science-fomo-and-what-we-re-really-missing-out

4. Theory. Center for Self-Determination Theory. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/theory/

5. Schwartz B. The Paradox of Choice. ECCO Press; 2016.

6. A scientific 3-step solution to overcome the fear of missing out. Psychology Compass. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://psychologycompass.com/blog/fear-of-missing-out/

7. Social media: influencers and FOMO. INM Marketing Group. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://inm-group.com/social-media-influencers-and-fomo

8. Weinstein A, Dorani D, Elhadif R, et al. Internet addiction is associated with social anxiety in young adults. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2015;27(1):4-9.

9. Wells G, Horwitz J, Seetharaman D. Facebook knows Instagram is toxic for teen girls, company documents show. The Wall Street Journal. September 14, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739

10. Mosseri A. Pausing "Instagram Kids" and building parental supervision tools. September 27, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2022. https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/pausing-instagram-kids

11. Hunt MG, Marx R, Lipson C, Young J. No more FOMO: limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. J Soc Clin Psychol. 2018;37(10):751-768.

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Why is it so hard to keep from comparing our lives to the lives of others?

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Abstract

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections. We are interested in understanding the complex construct of FoMO and its relations to the need to belong and form stable interpersonal relationships. It is associated with a range of negative life experiences and feelings, due to it being considered a problematic attachment to social media. We have provided a general review of the literature and have summarized the findings in relation to mental health, social functioning, sleep, academic performance and productivity, neuro-developmental disorders, and physical well-being. We have also discussed the treatment options available for FoMo based on cognitive behavior therapy. It imperative that new findings on FoMO are communicated to the clinical community as it has diagnostic implications and could be a confounding variable in those who do not respond to treatment as usual.

Keywords: Fear of missing out, Mental health, Physical well-being, Academic performance, Fear of missing out-reduction, Problematic social media

Core Tip: Fear of missing out is a relatively new construct that needs the attention of the clinical community due to its diagnostic implications in treatment processes. It is associated to problematic social media usage and can be experienced as a range of negative emotions and feelings related to the need to belong.

INTRODUCTION

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 and then extensively used since 2010[ 1] to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. It eventually made it to the oxford dictionary in 2013[ 2]. In 2013[ 3] British psychologists elaborated and defined it as "pervasive apprehension that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent", FoMO is characterized by the desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing. FoMO was conceptualized using self-determination theory (SDT), which was developed by Ryan et al[ 4] and applied by Przybylski et al[ 3] to understanding what drives FOMO. In SDT[ 5], social relatedness can drive intrinsic motivation, which in turn can encourage positive mental health. Przybylski et al[ 3] applied SDT to FoMO, proposing that FoMO is a negative emotional state resulting from unmet social relatedness needs. The conceptualization that FoMO involves negative affect from unmet social needs is similar to theories about the negative emotional effects of social ostracism[ 6]. FoMO is a relatively new psychological phenomenon. It may exist as an episodic feeling that occurs in mid-conversation, as a long-term disposition, or a state of mind that leads the individual to feel a deeper sense of social inferiority, loneliness, or intense rage[ 7].Today, more than ever, people are exposed to a lot of details about what others are doing; and people are faced with the continuous uncertainty about whether they are doing enough or if they are where they should be in terms of their life[ 8]. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections. The social aspect of FoMO could be postulated as relatedness which refers to the need to belong, and formation of strong and stable interpersonal relationships[ 9]. FoMO is considered as a type of problematic attachment to social media, and is associated with a range of negative life experiences and feelings, such as a lack of sleep, reduced life competency, emotional tension, negative effects on physical well-being, anxiety and a lack of emotional control; with intimate connections possibly being seen as a way to counter social rejection[ 10]. In the last seven years research is done to establish its links with various mental health outcomes. We are interested in understanding which population is more vulnerable to this phenomenon. It is also unclear which reward pathway seems to be involved in its reinforcing effects. It has been widely accepted that dopaminergic tracts, in particular, mesolimbic systems get activated with successful social connections[ 11]. The reward prediction error encoding and variable reward schedules are known to maintain these behaviors. FoMO is not a unitary phenomenon, but rather a more complex construct that could reflect a certain personal predisposition and maintained by rewarding experiences that results from people's desire for interpersonal attachments.

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This paper provides a general review of the literature. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar databases with coverage from January 2002 to December 2020. The search terms included "FoMO," "depression," "anxiety," "sleep," "academic" and "physical well-being." Results were restricted to peer-reviewed English-language articles. Conference and dissertation proceedings, case reports, protocol papers and opinion pieces were excluded. Reference lists were examined for additional articles of relevance. We identified n = 65 articles according to the above search methods. An additional 10 articles were identified through hand search and Google Scholar articles. Total n = 30 was excluded according to abstract screening. Full text review was performed for n = 45 articles according to study inclusion criteria. The n = 9 articles failed to meet stated inclusion criteria. Figure 1 shows the flowchart for study selection for inclusion.

Figure 1.

The flowchart for study selection for inclusion.

FOMO AND MENTAL HEALTH

Social networking sites (SNS) provides a compensatory medium for adolescents with social anxiety[ 12] to address their unmet social needs in a manner other than face to face communication[ 13]. The use of SNS contributes to easier communication[ 14] for those with deficits by compensating for their unmet social needs with much less effort and instantaneously[ 15, 16]. However, this "social compensation" can be problematic when it reinforces avoidance for face-to-face and consequentially increasing social anxiety[ 17]. These processes likely to worsen social fears and predisposes one for anxiety disorders. FoMO is also associated with problematic SNS use due to its easy access for adolescents to interact at will[ 18, 19] and constant need for personal validation and rewarding appraisals of distorted sense of self[ 20]. FoMO cognitive aspect is manifested by negative ruminations like frequently checking and refreshing SNS for alerts and notifications. These subsequently heightens the levels of anxiety in order to keep up with the theme with anticipation of a reward[ 21]. The concept of FoMO explores the fear of social exclusion. Through social media, there is continuous awareness of what an individual may be missing in terms of a good time which researcher phrases as "it creates distorted perceptions of edited lives of others". The 'Round the clock' nature of these communication may lead to feeling lonely and inadequate through highlighting others activities and popularity and comparison of oneself to others, leading to vicious cycle of compulsive checking and engagement. FoMO has a relationship with the amount time spent on SNS as a predictor of emotional distress[ 22]. The constant "upward social comparisons" and unreasonable expectations can adversely impact one's self-esteem. These events are associated with emergence of depressive symptoms in some individuals[ 23]. These depressive symptoms may be further compounded by perceptions that one can avoid negative emotions when part of these online communities[ 24]. In a Belgian[ 25] study with 1000 subjects, 6.5% were found to be using SNSs excessively, they were found to have lower emotional stability and agreeableness, conscientiousness, perceived control and self-esteem which could be risk factor for affective disorders. The problematic use of internet and development of FoMO is associated with young adults ignoring peer relationships, potentially leading to depressive symptoms[ 26]. Additionally, the longer time spent using SNS (spending more than 2 h per day) demonstrated a significantly higher risk of having suicidality[ 27]. FOMO may have a mediational role between narcissism and problematic SNS use suggesting that unmet social relatedness needs cause high engagement in problematic SNS use[ 28, 29]. A constant need for rewarding experiences reinforces one with FoMO to engage in risky activities[ 30] to maximize socialization opportunities[ 3]. FoMO has been associated with negative alcohol-related consequences either through higher alcohol use or greater willingness to engage in higher risk behaviors[ 31]. Adolescents with FoMO may likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol[ 32] to fit in with peers on SNS.

FOMO AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING

Despite the instantaneous and desired interactions with peers via social media, young adults are feeling lonelier and more disconnected than ever[ 33]. FoMO may exacerbate pre-existing feelings of loneliness after engaging on SNSs extensively[ 34]. It is argued that communication channels with fewer nonverbal cues may result in less warmth and closeness among those who are interacting in verbal means, avoiding meaningful and pragmatic communication[ 35]. This may result in misinterpretations and misunderstanding leading to further emotional dissatisfaction and feelings of loneliness[ 36]. It is believed that time spent on social networking sites, activates the amygdala and the fear pathway, rendering young adults vulnerable to feelings of loneliness, and social disconnectedness[ 3]. This contributes to a cyclical nature[ 3] of FoMO where an individual engages with SNS to alleviate feelings of loneliness, but in fact exacerbates them. They have to again return to SNS and attempt to alleviate these feelings[ 37]. Conversely, young adults who experienced less satisfaction of the basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and connectedness to others, also reported higher levels of FoMO[ 3]. FoMO broadcasts more options than can be pursued, impacting an individual's decision making in personal and professional settings[ 38]. It may impair an individual's ability to make commitments and agreements, as one feels inclined to keep options open and not risk losing out on an important, potentially life-changing experience which may offer greater meaning and personal gratification.

FOMO AND RELATIONSHIP WITH SLEEP

The FoMO and interpersonal stress are associated with insomnia and subsequently poor mental health outcomes[ 39]. In another Chinese study of university students, researchers found negative affect, which is "a general dimension of subjective distress and unpleasurable engagement that subsumes a variety of aversive mood states, including anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness", was linked with poor sleep mediated by FoMO[ 40]. In an Israeli university study of 40 participants who measured smartphone use at night, were at risk of reduced sleep quality and overall psychological health[ 41]. A survey of 101 adolescents linked pre-sleep worry and FoMO to longer sleep onset latency and reduced sleep duration[ 42]. It is also well established in clinical research, the blue light emitting from the screen of the electronic devices (short-wave blue light with wavelength between 415 nm and 455 nm) affect sleep[ 43]. The postulated mechanism includes suppression of pineal hormone melatonin leading to a state of neuropsychological arousal. These alterations in circadian rhythm may lead to increased sleep latency, reduced sleep duration, and increased daytime sleep.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY

FoMO is closely related to SNS use and has negative effects on academic performance[ 44].The effects of problematic internet usage (PIU) and responding to frequent notifications entails repeated switching between tasks. This affects attention span; interrupts work and overall productivity[ 45]. The constant connection via smartphones can impair cognitive abilities and cause academic distractions. Furthermore, rapid switching between tasks is related to poor learning[ 46]. It is established multitaskers make more mistakes and take longer to complete tasks[ 47]. Additionally, overuse of SNS has been associated with decreased academic performance and activity[ 48].

FOMO AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

There were no current studies which link patients who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with FoMO. However, it will be of interest to study children and adolescents with hyperactivity and inattention who already have delayed myelination in prefrontal cortex[ 49]. It could be a reasonable hypothesis based on the recent evidence, that these patients would be more vulnerable to FoMO. And subsequently have further worsening in areas of self-evaluation, self-monitoring, and the interpretation of affect in social situations[ 50, 51]. Further research is needed in this area to explore variables likely to be affected with emergence of FoMO.

FOMO AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING

The young adults with high levels of FoMO are less likely to report their own lifestyle as healthy. The feelings of envy and social exclusion are also linked with poor eating habits[ 52]. Additionally, FoMO promotes high SNS use which leads to a sedentary lifestyle influencing the epidemic of obesity in young adults[ 53]. The amount of time spent on SNS is associated with vision issues[ 54] and poor attention, which is linked with accidents while walking, crossing roads, driving or doing daily activities. PIU due to FoMO may lead to poor posture and subsequent musculoskeletal pain involving neck, back and hands and fingers[ 55]. This is further accentuated as pain prevents the initiation or the continuation of sleep, contributing to poor physical health.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR FOMO

The treatment choice is based on the principles of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)[ 56]. CBT addresses distorted cognitions which is postulated to be underlying its development and maintenance of these conditions[ 57]. It also addresses underlying anxiety and focuses on the predisposing factors[ 56]. The main treatment goal should be control rather than abstinence. FoMO reduction (FoMO-R)[ 57] is a novel promising specifically designed model aimed at building resilience by focusing on self-help literacy guide about design and appropriate use of SNS[ 58]. It is an active, effective user-friendly, safe alternative to anxiolytic drugs and self-help technique relying on dealing with the vicious circle model of anxiety[ 59]. The method associates between the context of use, fears and technical countermeasures. The effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal of anxiety has been recognized in helping people recognize and manage their digital addiction. Compulsive behaviors can be regulated using techniques such as distraction and reappraisal. Distraction avoidance techniques are also a part of FoMO-R. Excessive involvement in the targeted behaviors leading to self-reported functional impairment tends to be fairly transient for most individuals hence the excessive behaviors such as FoMO are often context-dependent, and that spontaneous recovery is frequent[ 60]. Individuals are also offered alternative strategies and opportunities for connecting with other people without having the feeling of missing out on something. Some studies have reported use of anxiolytics and found it helpful.

DISCUSSION

As per CDC, child and teens ages 8-18 spend an average of 7.5 h[ 61] on screen including Television. PIU[ 62] has been on the rise and its association with child and adolescent psychopathology has been well established. Since the introduction of SNS in 2008, there has been a steady rise in increased social interactions online. In 2014, the term FoMO which was initially used in marketing was formally adapted in clinical psychiatry to describe a unique phenomenon. It's evident based on recent research that it's a complex psychological underpinning involving cognitive, behavioral and addiction processes. FoMO may start with distorted thinking related to sense of fear of being left out from a rewarding experience. However, it is reinforced with constant responsiveness to SNS. Some research also terms these behaviors as compulsive. We continue to doubt if these behaviors are of obsessive nature, but clearly constant rechecking and browsing of SNS is hallmark. These behaviors are impairing several domains as discussed in the earlier part of this paper. We also hypothesize that the complex nature FoMO could be due to rapid change in technology in last two decades. Social[ 63] anthropology studies have demonstrated how SNS may be impacting social norms. However, it would be a fair argument that human cognitive processes have been lagging behind a rapidly changing technology interface. These researches are an attempt to recognize and understand origins and psychological interplay with multiple brain process. FoMO has been linked with not only distractibility, but overall decline in productivity and worse mental health outcomes. The recent studies have established association with sleep disturbances, social anxiety, clinical depression and decline in academic performance. It's not clear who all are vulnerable to FoMO, but its observed that certainly personality traits and one with underlying mental health problems could be more affected. The measurement scale validated for FoMO has established in empirical research that these sequelae could be extremely impairing and debilitating. We did not observe any research linking FoMO with ADHD. ADHD is a disorder characterized with deficits with delayed gratification and theoretically one suffering from ADHD would not only be vulnerable but also likely to have worse overall outcomes related to FoMO. ADHD is strongly associated with internet gaming disorder[ 64] and we postulate that these subtypes would be more prone to aggressive outbursts. An alternative explanation of these phenomenon could be attributed to the negative feelings of envy[ 65]. The most accepted reasons are lack of intimacy in these interactions and having a large group on social media where one constantly finds themselves to compare oneself with others[ 66]. In this pool, it is likely people will experience frustration and envy from comparing oneself to others but still tempted in striving to be closer to the person of comparison[ 67]. These behaviors could exacerbate negative emotions such as envy, jealousy, resentment, and anxiety as well as the desire to chase social media perfection[ 68]. It is likely the effects will be worsened for individuals with mental health issues[ 69]. The knowledge of these underlying psychological processes would be crucial for providing psychoeducation and also planning individualized psychotherapy-based interventions. It's also interesting to note that FoMO is a global phenomenon, and research evidence is present from North America, Asia, Europe and Australia which further underscores the need to understand the address. With regards to treatment, the common theme of all the research was its origin lies in the amount of screen time. After the recommended screen time is exceeded, one is more vulnerable to access information and maintain social relationships via SNS or social gaming networks. The key preventive measure remains restricting to the recommended screen time. The minimum age for using SNS is set at 13 and more legislative measures are needed to raise the age to 16. However, it has been reported that many younger children also have accounts on SNS. Parental education also has been found to be a highly effective measure to curb this. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended Family Media Use Plan[ 70] has been a useful tool. Beside prevention, promising research based on transtheoretical model has been an effective. It's interesting to note that a key feature of this intervention is making one understand how social media works.

CONCLUSION

FoMO is a now an established entity in the research community. However, many practicing clinicians are not aware or educated about it affecting their population. It's imperative these new findings are communicated to the clinical community. Given it has both diagnostic implications and also could be a confounding variable in ones who do not respond to the treatment as usual. There is need for further research which includes prevalence studies, psychological understanding and more evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions.

Footnotes

Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Manuscript source: Invited manuscript

Peer-review started: February 6, 2021

First decision: February 28, 2021

Article in press: May 19, 2021

Specialty type: Psychiatry

Country/Territory of origin: United States

Peer-review report's scientific quality classification

P-Reviewer: Seeman MV S-Editor: Wang JL L-Editor: A P-Editor: Zhang YL

Contributor Information

Mayank Gupta, Clarion Psychiatric Center and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clarion, PA 16214, United States.

Aditya Sharma, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. aas142@pitt.edu.

References

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Fear of missing out: A brief overview of origin, theoretical underpinnings and relationship with mental health

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Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these ...