The psychological impact of fear of missing out (FOMO) on mental health among young people

Fear of missing out (FOMO) refers to the fear that others may be having rewarding experiences without one’s participation. The concept was introduced by Przybylski et.al (2013) and is closely linked to social connectedness. With the rapid growth of social media platforms FOMO has become increasingly common among adolescents and young adults. Research shows that individuals with higher levels of FOMO tend to spend more time on social networking sites and frequently check their smartphones. Several studies have found a strong association between FOMO and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness. High FOMO has also been linked to low self- esteem, poor sleep quality and reduced academic performance among students. Social comparison on digital platforms further intensifies feelings of exclusion and inadequacy. Self Determination Theory explains FOMO as arising from unmet psychological needs for relatedness and belonginess. FOMO has been shown to mediate the relationship between excessive social media use and negative psychological outcomes. However, most existing rely on cross sectional designs, limiting casual interpretations. Over-all this literature review provides an outline of how FOMO is related to and affects mental health among young individuals. highlighting the need for further research in this area. The present paper aims to review existing literature on fear of missing out and its impact on mental health and psychological well-being among adolescents and young adults