The Impact of Constant Online Presence and Multitasking Behavior on Cognitive Fatigue Among Generation Z University Students

Brain fog refers to attention deficits, mental cloudiness, and forgetfulness linked to cognitive fatigue, with factors such as multitasking, fear of missing out, and constant online engagement contributing to its occurrence. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship and predictive effects of fear of missing out (FoMO) related to social media and multi-screen use on brain fog symptoms in Generation Z university students. The study was conducted using a correlational survey model and a quantitative research design. Data were collected from 295 university students in Turkey via an online survey. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and simple and multiple regression analyses were applied to the data analysis. A strong and significant relationship was found between the behavior of being constantly online (FoMO) and brain fog levels. It was found that multiple screen use is a significant and strong predictor of brain fog; in particular, the subscale compulsive use highly explains overall brain fog levels. It was determined that the social subscale of FoMO has a high level of effect on both psychological and physical brain fog symptoms.