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Background <p>For today’s Indian college students, social media is deeply embedded in daily academic and social life. While digital platforms offer opportunities for connection, they also heighten the <i>fear of missing out</i> (FOMO), which may undermine well-being. This study examines the complex relationship between social networking intensity (SNI), FOMO, and mental well-being (MW), focusing on both mediating and reciprocal dynamics.</p> Methods <p>A structured survey was conducted among 357 students enrolled in professional courses in Indore, India. Standardized scales measured SNI, FOMO, and MW. Data were analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized pathways.</p> Results <p>Findings confirm that SNI is positively associated with FOMO, and FOMO significantly mediates the relationship between SNI and MW. At the same time, the results suggest a potential bidirectional pattern: students with higher baseline FOMO may engage more intensively in social networking, reinforcing a feedback loop between emotional vulnerability and digital usage.</p> Conclusion <p>The study highlights that the psychological effects of social networking cannot be reduced to usage time alone but are shaped by reciprocal interactions between emotional experiences and digital behaviors. Interventions should focus on digital literacy, resilience to social comparison, and balanced online engagement. Recognizing the possibility of this feedback loop is critical for designing effective campus-based mental health strategies in India and beyond.</p>

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Unpacking the theoretical role of fear of missing out in the relationship between social networking intensity and well-being among Indian college students

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月8日

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  • Satnam Ubeja,
  • Neetu Chhillar,
  • Swaranjeet Arora,
  • Ratnesh Gupta

摘要

Background

For today’s Indian college students, social media is deeply embedded in daily academic and social life. While digital platforms offer opportunities for connection, they also heighten the fear of missing out (FOMO), which may undermine well-being. This study examines the complex relationship between social networking intensity (SNI), FOMO, and mental well-being (MW), focusing on both mediating and reciprocal dynamics.

Methods

A structured survey was conducted among 357 students enrolled in professional courses in Indore, India. Standardized scales measured SNI, FOMO, and MW. Data were analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized pathways.

Results

Findings confirm that SNI is positively associated with FOMO, and FOMO significantly mediates the relationship between SNI and MW. At the same time, the results suggest a potential bidirectional pattern: students with higher baseline FOMO may engage more intensively in social networking, reinforcing a feedback loop between emotional vulnerability and digital usage.

Conclusion

The study highlights that the psychological effects of social networking cannot be reduced to usage time alone but are shaped by reciprocal interactions between emotional experiences and digital behaviors. Interventions should focus on digital literacy, resilience to social comparison, and balanced online engagement. Recognizing the possibility of this feedback loop is critical for designing effective campus-based mental health strategies in India and beyond.