The Impact of Fear of Missing Out and Emotional Reactivity on Social Media Addiction Among University Students

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate if there was any relationship between Fear of missing out (FOMO), emotional reactivity (ER) and social media addiction (SMA) in the case of undergraduate university students in Islamabad, Pakistan. The study hypothesized that there will be a significant positive relationship between FOMO, emotional reactivity and social media addiction. In addition, it was expected that FOMO and emotional reactivity would predict social media addiction. Demographic differences, including gender, family system, time spent on social media, and kind of social media platform used, were also explored. A sample of undergraduate students, n=222 (age range: 18-24) were recruited into the study using purposive sampling method. Furthermore, data were collected using the Online Fear of Missing Out Scale (ON-FOMO), Emotional Reactivity Scale (ERS), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Survey research method was employed, and statistical analyses were correlation, regression, t-tests, and ANOVA. Moreover, the results revealed a significant positive relationship between FOMO, emotional reactivity and social media addiction. Results of regression analysis showed that FOMO and emotional reactivity significantly predicted social media addiction. No gender differences were found by t-tests, but significant differences were observed for family system, where FOMO and social media addiction were higher in individuals from joint family systems. These ANOVA results were significant for time spent on social media as well as the kind of platform used with those on Twitter reporting the highest rates of social media addiction and FOMO and the least on WhatsApp. The conclusions drawn from these results emphasize the necessity for treating psychological and demographic factors when it comes to molding ideas and methods for controlling social media addiction among university students. The limitations of the study are discussed, and recommendations for further research are given.