Exploring the relationship among fear of missing out, needs for approval, depression, and social media disorder

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is characterized as anxiety to stay continually connected with an ongoing event happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media, which may contribute to the threat of psychological and behavioral well-being. Objectives: The present study aimed at investigating how perceived need of approval has a correlational link to FoMO as well as the mediating role of FoMO to the relationship between need for approval and behavioral correlates concerning depression, social media engagement and life satisfaction respectively. It is hypothesized that those who perceive higher need of approval from others report higher degree of FoMO, which also predicts higher degree of depression, social media disorder and lower level of life satisfaction. Method: 180 university students aged from 18-26 (61 males; 119 females; M_age = 21.52; SD = 1.67) were recruited to complete a set of questionnaire regarding need of approval, FoMO, depression, social media disorder and life satisfaction. Correlation, multiple regression analyses and PROCESS program were implemented for data analysis. Results: 1) significant positive relationships among need for approval, fear of missing out, depression and social media disorder were found, whereas negative relationships between life satisfaction with all other variables were found; 2)There was a mediating effect of FoMO for the association between need for approval and depression as well as for the association between need for approval and social media disorder; 3) No significant mediating effect of FoMO between need for approval and life satisfaction was found. Conclusion: The effects of need for approval from others on both depression and social media disorder are mediated by degree of fear of missing out. Deeper understanding of FoMO can help people build up positive self-concept and monitor appropriate social media engagement, thus avoiding suffering from psychological distress. All rights reserved.