Fear of Missing Out
a.k.a. FoMO
and its multiple
correlates
Presentation structure:
1. Introduction - what is the FoMO?
2. Theories associated with the FOMO.
3. Studies described in the article:
Study 1 - measuring FoMO;
Study 2 - FoMO in society;
Study 3 - affective and behavioral correlates of
FoMO.
4. Conclusions.
5. Sources.
What is the FoMO?
A general explanation of the concept.
What does the word FoMO mean?
What stands behind this expression?
How is it characterized and explained?
Who and when had identified this phenomenon?
Is FoMO somehow connected to social media?
What is the prevalence of FoMo and why is it getting widespread?
Dr. Dan Herman
Theories associated with FOMO.
Mechanisms of
autoregulation
Psychological needs:
• need to belong
• the need for popularity
Self-determination theory (SDT):
• Competence - the possibility to effectively act in the world
• Autonomy - self-authorship, and personal initiative
• Relatedness – closeness, and connections with others.
FoMO as self-regulatory process arising from deficits in psychological need satisfaction.
The link between NSD, FoMO and SM engagement
The direct link The indirect link
individuals low in basic need need deficits -> general sensitivity
satisfaction to FoMO
Social Media as a tool: FoMO as a mediator between
To get in touch needs deficits and SM use
To develop social competence
To deepen social ties need satisfaction deficit is linked
to SM use only through FoMO
Study 1 - measuring FoMO
The aim of this first study:
• To create an accurate self- report FoMO scale
Sample of participants:
• 672 men and 341 women, 1013 in total
• Age from 18 to 62 years old
• From different countries
• A pool of statements reflecting to FoMO:
• Data-driven approach to select items with the best psychometric
properties.
• As a result, only the most accurate 10 items were chosen
The FoMOs was created:
• Five-point Likert-type scale
• The final scale items showed good consistency (a=.87)
Study 2 - FoMO in
Aims to investigate: society
• Demographic variability of FoMO
• FoMO as a mediating factor (between ID and SM usage)
Sample of participants: The results:
• Nationally representative sample of UK citizens • Males -> higher in FoMO
• Group of 2079 working age adults, 50%/50% • Gender difference and age
• In age from 22 to 65, (M=43.2) • FoMO and age
• Low social media use -> high level of need satisfaction/
Hypotheses: overall life satisfaction
• Basic needs satisfied -> lower in FoMO • High FoMO -> less needs satisfied -> low level of general
• Low general mood / life satisfaction -> high FoMO mood and overall life satisfaction
• Link between FoMO and SM use
What was measured:
• Fear of missing out (FOMOs)
• Social media engagement (self-report scale, 5 situations, 8-point scale, past week)
• Psychological need satisfaction (9-item Need Satisfaction Scale by LaGuardia &
Ryan)
• Overall life satisfaction (self-reported scale, life satisfaction in 4 life domains)
Study 3 - affective and behavioural correlates of
Aims to investigate:
• How is FoMO related to emotions and behaviorFoMO
• How those high in FoMO feel about their social media usage (mixed feelings)
• How does FoMO (via social media) distracts them from responsibilities
Sample of participants:
• A group of young adults, first-year university students
• 87 students - 20 men and 67 women
The results:
• In age from 18 to 33, (M=20)
• High FoMO -> greater Facebook engagement
• High FoMO -> more mixed feelings using SM
What was measured: • High FoMO -> more SM usage during the lectures
• Fear of missing out (FOMOs) • High FoMO -> more phobbing while driving
• Facebook engagement (self-report scale, 5 situations, 8-point scale, last
week)
• Ambivalent emotional experiences (10-item version of the PANAS-X)
• Distracted learning (a single item question)
• Distracted driving (series of self-report items, 4 situations, 4-point scale, 3
month)
Conclusion
The level of psychological need satisfaction may constitute a risk factor for developing FoMO.
FoMO is negatively associated with both general mood and overall life
satisfaction.
This link remained despite a demographic and national variability.
FoMO plays a key role in explaining social media
engagement.
Students high in FoMO were more likely to use Facebook during their university lectures.
Sources:
Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013).
Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out.
Computers in human behavior, 29(4), 1841-1848.
Turkle, S. (2006). Always-on/always-on-you: The tethered self. Handbook of mobile
communication studies.
Jupowicz-Ginalska, A., Jasiewicz, J., Kisilowska, M., Baran, T., & Wysocki, A.
(2018). FOMO. Polacy a lęk przed odłączeniem–raport z badań [FOMO. Poles
and the Fear of Missing Out–A Research Report]. Warszawa: Wydział
Dziennikarstwa Informacji i Bibliologii UW.
The link between FoMO and general well-being
Sherry Turkle
According to her intense SM use be:
• Bad for our mental helth
• Physically dangerous
Jenna Wortham
A mix of SM and FoMO -> general unhappiness
FoMO as a source of negative mood and depressed feelings
Undermines the sense of making the best decisions
Burke, Marlow & others
Study on motives of SM usage
Using SM to avoid negative emotional states
SM as an outlet for frustrations
