Analyzing the impact of fear of missing out on the psychological well-being of students in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

Social media has recently changed how people connect and communicate with society. On the one hand, it brings benefits in terms of sharing information. However, it also creates a Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), which is considered to impact mental health negatively. A cross-sectional study based on data from 293 participants was conducted to examine the impact of FoMO on psychological well-being. At the same time, the study explored the effects of social media exhaustion and information overload on this relationship through the lens of information processing theory. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that FoMO reduces individuals’ psychological well-being. Social media burnout and information overload also contribute to increased negative psychological states. Moreover, the mediating role of social media exhaustion has also been shown to influence the relationship between FoMO and psychological well-being. Based on these findings, implications, recommendations, and directions for action are provided to mitigate the adverse effects of FoMO, information overload, and social media exhaustion.