Background:
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) on social media has emerged as
a significant concern, particularly among college students, with implications for mental
well-being and internet use. While previous studies have explored various aspects of
mindfulness about digital behaviors, the specific link between mindfulness and FoMO,
as well as the potential mechanisms involved, remains underexplored.
Objective:
Guided by the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and the
Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model, this study
investigates the relationship between mindfulness and FoMO among Chinese college
students. Additionally, it explores the mediating roles of cognitive bias and the need
to belong in understanding how mindfulness influences FoMO.
Methods:
Data was collected from 748 university students from two universities in
China. Participants completed questionnaires assessing mindfulness, cognitive bias, the
need to belong, and FoMO. Statistical analyses, including mediation models and
bootstrapping, were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and the PROCESS macro version 3.3.
Results:
The SPSS PROCESS macro Model 4 analysis revealed that the relationships
between mindfulness and FoMO (β=-.011, p=.738) and between Attention to Positive
Information (API) and FoMO (β=.029, p=.383) were nonsignificant. Mindfulness
exhibited negative associations with Attention to Negative Information (ANI) (β=-
.250, p<.001) and the need to belong (β=-.254, p<.001) and positive associations with
API (β=.268, p<.001). Furthermore, ANI positively correlated with FoMO (β=.182,
p<.001), and the need to belong had a significant positive impact on FoMO (β=.503,
p<.001). The mediation analysis indicated that the effect of mindfulness on FoMO
was fully mediated by ANI and the need to belong, with no direct effect through API.
Conclusion:
By recognizing mindfulness as a valuable psychological resource, this
research offers insights for developing targeted interventions aimed at reducing
FoMO and promoting healthier social media engagement among this population.
These findings contribute to the broader understanding of the interplay between
mindfulness, cognitive processes, motivation, and FoMO, offering guidance for
future research and practical interventions.
