Title Page
Romantic Beliefs as Predictors of Fear of Missing Out and Fear of
Negative Evaluation in Young Adults
[Author Name]
[Institutional Affiliation]
[Author Note]
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Abstract
Objective: The modern dating landscape, characterized by digital
connectivity and an abundance of choice, may amplify the psychological
impact of idealized romantic beliefs. This study investigated the role of these
beliefs in predicting two salient modern anxieties: Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)
and Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) among young adults. Method: A
cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. A sample of 350
undergraduate students (M age = 20.1, SD = 1.7) completed an online
survey comprising the Romantic Beliefs Scale (RBS; Sprecher & Metts, 1989),
a modified Fear of Missing Out Scale (Przybylski et al., 2013) targeting
romantic contexts, and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (Leary,
1983). Results: As hypothesized, multiple regression analyses revealed that
higher endorsement of romantic beliefs significantly predicted both greater
romantic FoMO, β = .42, p < .001, and greater FNE, β = .38, p < .001. A
strong positive correlation was also found between romantic FoMO and
FNE, r(348) = .65, p < .001. Conclusions: The findings suggest that
internalized, unrealistic narratives about romance are a significant cognitive
precursor to a dual anxiety in young adults, fueling both a preoccupation
with superior alternatives and a hypersensitivity to social judgment.
Interventions aimed at fostering relational well-being should target these
maladaptive romantic schemas.
Keywords: romantic beliefs, fear of missing out (FoMO), fear of negative
evaluation, young adults, dating anxiety
Romantic Beliefs as Predictors of Fear of Missing Out and Fear of
Negative Evaluation in Young Adults
The formation of intimate romantic relationships is a central developmental
task of young adulthood. In the contemporary era, this process is
increasingly mediated by digital platforms, which offer unprecedented access
to potential partners while simultaneously fostering an environment of
perpetual social comparison and perceived limitless choice (Tran & Rivas,
2022). Within this complex milieu, individuals often navigate their romantic
lives guided by deeply held romantic beliefs—cognitive schemas about the
nature of love, destiny, and ideal partners (Sprecher & Metts, 1989). While
these beliefs can provide a compelling narrative for relationships, research
indicates they are often unrealistic and can lead to dissatisfaction when
confronted with the complexities of real-world partnerships (Franiuk et al.,
2002).
Existing literature has robustly linked unrealistic romantic beliefs to negative
relational outcomes, such as lower commitment, poorer conflict resolution,
and higher rates of dissolution (Goodwin & Findlay, 1997). However, less is
known about how these beliefs contribute to the anticipatory anxieties that
precede and permeate modern romantic pursuits. Specifically, two
interrelated anxieties appear particularly salient: the Fear of Missing Out
(FoMO)—a pervasive apprehension that one might miss rewarding romantic
experiences that others are having (Przybylski et al., 2013)—and the Fear of
Negative Evaluation (FNE)—a distress about being judged negatively by
potential or current partners (Leary, 1983).
This study proposes that unrealistic romantic beliefs serve as a key cognitive
precursor to this "dual anxiety." For instance, believing in a single "soulmate"
may fuel FoMO by creating a constant, anxious search for a perfect match,
fostering a "grass is greener" mentality (Spielmann et al., 2013).
Concurrently, the pressure to be an "ideal partner" in a storybook romance
may exacerbate FNE, as any perceived social misstep could be interpreted as
a failure to meet these exalted standards. Therefore, this research aims to
empirically test a model where romantic beliefs are positioned as significant
predictors of both FoMO and FNE, thereby providing an integrated
understanding of the psychological challenges inherent in modern romance.
Literature Review
Romantic Beliefs and Their Consequences
The Romantic Beliefs Scale (RBS; Sprecher & Metts, 1989) identifies key
idealized beliefs, including "Love Finds a Way," "One and Only," and
"Idealization." These beliefs, often propagated by media, create a script for
relationships that real-life interactions frequently fail to follow. Studies have
consistently shown that individuals who strongly endorse these beliefs
experience more significant drops in relationship satisfaction when inevitable
conflicts arise (Franiuk et al., 2002). The link to regret has been established,
but the connection to ongoing, state-like anxieties like FoMO is less explored.
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) in Romantic Contexts
FoMO is conceptually rooted in Self-Determination Theory, arising from
deficits in basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and
relatedness (Przybylski et al., 2013). In romantic contexts, this manifests as
anxiety that one is settling or missing a more fulfilling connection elsewhere.
The rise of dating applications, which gamify partner selection, directly
amplifies this anxiety by providing a seemingly endless stream of
alternatives (Tran & Rivas, 2022). While general FoMO has been studied
extensively, its specific manifestation in romance requires targeted
measurement.
Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) in Dating
FNE is a core component of social anxiety disorder but exists on a continuum
in the general population (Leary, 1983). Dating is a quintessentially
evaluative context, where individuals are acutely aware of being judged on
their appearance, personality, and social value. High FNE can lead to
avoidance of dating, excessive reassurance-seeking, and heightened
sensitivity to rejection cues (Wong & Lian, 2021).
The Present Study
This study integrates these three constructs to test a novel model. It is
hypothesized that:
H1: Romantic beliefs will be a significant positive predictor of romantic
FoMO.
H2: Romantic beliefs will be a significant positive predictor of FNE.
H3: Romantic FoMO and FNE will be significantly positively correlated.
Method
Participants
A power analysis using G*Power indicated a minimum sample of 191
participants to detect a small-to-medium effect size (f² = 0.05) with 80%
power. To account for potential exclusions, a sample of 350 undergraduate
students was recruited from a large public university. The final sample
consisted of 348 participants (182 women, 163 men, 3 non-binary) aged 18
to 25 (M = 20.1, SD = 1.7). Participants were recruited through the
university’s subject pool and received course credit for their involvement.
Materials / Measures
1. Demographic Questionnaire. This collected information on age,
gender, year of study, and current relationship status.
2. Romantic Beliefs Scale (RBS; Sprecher & Metts, 1989). The RBS
is a 15-item scale measuring endorsement of idealized beliefs about
relationships (e.g., “I believe that for each person there is only one
other person he or she can love”). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert
scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). Total scores
range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating stronger
endorsement of unrealistic romantic ideals. In the current study, the
scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .87).
3. Fear of Missing Out Scale (Modified; Przybylski et al.,
2013). The original 10-item scale was adapted to specify a romantic
context. For example, the item “I get anxious when I don’t know what
my friends are up to” was modified to “I get anxious when I don’t know
what romantic or dating opportunities my friends are having.” Items
are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (Not at all true of me) to 5
(Extremely true of me), with total scores ranging from 10 to 50. The
modified scale showed excellent reliability in this sample (α = .92).
4. Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE; Leary,
1983). The BFNE is a 12-item scale that measures apprehension about
others' evaluations (e.g., “I am often afraid that I will say or do the
wrong thing”). Participants rate items on a 5-point Likert scale from 1
(Not at all characteristic of me) to 5 (Extremely characteristic of me).
Total scores range from 12 to 60. The scale demonstrated high internal
consistency in this study (α = .94).
Procedure
After obtaining approval from the university's Institutional Review Board,
participants were recruited through the online participant pool system. The
study was advertised as research on "Social Attitudes and Modern Dating."
Interested participants provided digital informed consent before proceeding
to the survey, hosted on the Qualtrics platform. The survey presented the
demographic questions and the three scales in a randomized order to control
for order effects. The entire procedure took approximately 15 minutes. Upon
completion, participants were presented with a detailed debriefing form.
Research Design
This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design. The
primary variables were romantic beliefs (predictor variable), and romantic
FoMO and FNE (criterion variables).
Results
Preliminary analyses confirmed that the data met the assumptions of
normality, linearity, and homoscedasticity for regression. Descriptive
statistics and zero-order correlations for all study variables are presented in
Table 1.
Table 1
Means, Standard Deviations, and Intercorrelations for Study Variables (N =
348)
Variable M SD 1 2
1. Romantic Beliefs 52.3 8.1 —
2. Romantic FoMO 32.7 9.5 .42** —
3. FNE 41.8 11.2 .38** .65**
Note. FNE = Fear of Negative Evaluation.
**p < .01.
To test H1 and H2, two separate simple linear regression analyses were
conducted. The first regression examined romantic beliefs as a predictor of
romantic FoMO. The model was significant, F(1, 346) = 75.84, p < .001, with
romantic beliefs accounting for 18% of the variance in FoMO scores (R²
= .18). As predicted, romantic beliefs were a significant positive predictor of
romantic FoMO (β = .42, p < .001), supporting H1.
The second regression examined romantic beliefs as a predictor of FNE. This
model was also significant, F(1, 346) = 60.11, p < .001, with romantic beliefs
accounting for 14% of the variance in FNE scores (R² = .14). Romantic beliefs
were a significant positive predictor of FNE (β = .38, p < .001), supporting
H2.
Finally, a Pearson correlation confirmed H3, revealing a strong, positive
correlation between romantic FoMO and FNE, r(348) = .65, p < .001.
Discussion
The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether unrealistic romantic
beliefs predict Fear of Missing Out and Fear of Negative Evaluation in young
adults. The results fully supported the hypotheses, indicating that stronger
endorsement of romantic beliefs was a significant predictor of both higher
romantic FoMO and higher FNE. Furthermore, the strong correlation between
FoMO and FNE suggests these anxieties are closely intertwined in the
context of modern dating.
These findings align with and extend existing literature. The link between
romantic beliefs and FoMO can be explained by Self-Determination Theory
(Przybylski et al., 2013); idealized beliefs may frustrate basic psychological
needs, leading individuals to perpetually seek validation externally, thereby
fueling a fear of better alternatives. The connection to FNE supports
Sociometer Theory (Leary, 1983), as unrealistic beliefs likely hypersensitize
individuals' internal "sociometers" to any sign of social rejection or negative
appraisal in dating scenarios.
The strong correlation between FoMO and FNE underscores a potential
cyclical pattern: the fear of being judged (FNE) may lead to awkward
interactions or dating app behaviors that exacerbate the feeling of being left
out (FoMO), which in turn can increase sensitivity to evaluation. This "dual
anxiety" model provides a more nuanced framework for understanding the
distress reported by many young adults in the dating world.
Limitations and Future Research
The cross-sectional design of this study prevents causal inference. Future
research should employ longitudinal designs to establish temporal
precedence. The use of a modified FoMO scale, while demonstrating high
reliability, requires further validation. Future studies could explore these
relationships in more diverse age groups and cultural contexts, and
incorporate behavioral measures, such as actual dating app usage data, to
complement self-report findings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study provides empirical evidence that unrealistic
romantic beliefs are a significant cognitive factor underpinning the dual
anxiety of Fear of Missing Out and Fear of Negative Evaluation among young
adults. The findings highlight the psychological cost of holding idealized
narratives about romance in an era of digital connectivity and abundant
choice. Clinically, these results suggest that interventions aimed at fostering
healthier romantic relationships should include components that help
individuals identify, critique, and modify their unrealistic romantic beliefs,
thereby potentially reducing associated anxieties and improving overall
relational well-being.
References
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relationships: Implications for relationship satisfaction and
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Wong, P. T., & Lian, L. (2021). Fear of negative evaluation and dating anxiety:
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Appendices
Appendix A
Informed Consent Form
Tables
Table 1
Means, Standard Deviations, and Intercorrelations for Study Variables (N =
348)
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Figures
Figure 1
Conceptual Model of the Hypothesized Relationships
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