Digital health risks and well-being: internet addiction, fear of missing out, and life satisfaction in Lebanese adults

BACKGROUND: Excessive internet use might be linked to Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), which is negatively linked to all aspects of life, including physical, mental, and social well-being. Internet use can bring about the sense of fear of missing out (FOMO), which is a social anxiety where the individual feels they are being left out; thus, it is a motivation to use the internet even more. Both IAD and FOMO are highly related to lower life satisfaction; however, this relationship is largely understudied in Lebanon. This study examined the relationship between internet addiction, fear of missing out, and life satisfaction in Lebanese adults, given the country's shortage of mental health care and high internet usage. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional online survey enrolled 549 Lebanese residents aged 18 or older. Participants provided answers to demographic and social media use questions, the Internet Addiction Test, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Fear of Missing Out Scale. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis adjusting for age and education showed that Internet Addiction was significantly associated with higher FOMO (B = 0.014, p < 0.001), while Life Satisfaction was not significantly associated (B = -0.006, p = 0.106). The model explained 27.0% of the variance in FOMO (R² = 0.270). A separate multiple regression analysis for life satisfaction, adjusting for financial stability, smoking, and health problems, showed that Internet addiction remained significantly associated with lower life satisfaction (B = -0.038, p = 0.027), along with financial stability (B = 1.5, p < 0.001), smoking (B = -1.561, p = 0.013), and health problems (B = -3.9, p = 0.002). The model explained 9.7% of the variance in life satisfaction (R² = 0.097). CONCLUSION: Internet addiction was significantly associated with higher levels of fear of missing out, while life satisfaction was not associated with FOMO among Lebanese adults. Additionally, higher levels of internet addiction were significantly associated with lower life satisfaction. These findings highlight the meaningful associations between digital behaviors and well-being and emphasize the importance of promoting digital literacy and mental health interventions among populations at risk.