The Mediating Role of Social Loneliness Level in the Effect of Fear of Missing Out on Digital Addiction: A Study for Academicians
Abstract
Aim: To determine the interaction between fear of missing out (FoMO), digital addiction, and social loneliness level, the question “does social loneliness mediate the effect of fear of missing out on digital addiction?” is sought.
Method: Within the scope of the research, a survey was conducted with 614 academics working at universities in Türkiye using the quantitative research method. The obtained data were analyzed using AMOS 24 and SPSS 26 programs. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation model analysis, correlation analysis, and frequency analysis were performed during the analysis process.
Results: It was determined that fear of missing out (FoMO) increased digital addiction and social loneliness. In addition, it was observed that increasing social loneliness levels strengthened digital addiction. During the research process, it was determined that social loneliness played a mediating role in the effect of FoMO on digital addiction.
Conclusion: When the literature was examined, no other study was found that examined the interactions of fear of missing out (FoMO), digital addiction, and social loneliness level in the same research model. It can be said that this study is original by verifying a research model that has not been tried before. Based on the findings, practical and theoretical suggestions are given in the conclusion section.
Keywords
References
- ABU-SHANAB, E., AL-SHARAFI, M. A., & AL-EMRAN, M. (2024). The influence of network externality and fear of missing out on the continuous use of social networks: a cross-country comparison. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 40(15), 4058-4070.
- ADA, S., & TATLI, H. (2012). Akıllı telefon kullanımını etkileyen faktörler üzerine bir araştırma. K. Maraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi, İİBF, İşletme Bölümü, Kahramanmaraş.
- AKGÜL, H.. (2020). “Yetişkinler için Sosyal ve Duygusal Yalnızlık Ölçeği’nin (SELSA-S) Türk kültürüne uyarlaması: Geçerlilik ve güvenirlik çalışması.” Yalova Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 10 (21):54-69.
- AKOPOV, S. (2024). Sovereignty as ‘organized loneliness’: an existential approach to the sovereigntism of Russian ‘state-civilization’. Journal of Political Ideologies, 29(1), 145-170.
- AL-MAMUN, F., HASAN, M. E., MOSTOFA, N. B., AKTHER, M., MASHRUBA, T., ARİF, M., ... & MAMUN, M. A. (2024). Prevalence and factors associated with digital addiction among students taking university entrance tests: a GIS-based study. BMC psychiatry, 24(1), 322.
- ALSHAKHSI, S., BABIKER, A., MONTAG, C., & ALI, R. (2023). On the association between personality, fear of missing out (FoMO) and problematic social media use tendencies in European and Arabian samples. Acta psychologica, 240, 104026.
- ALSHEHRI, H., ALTURKESTANI, R., HIJAN, B., ALMALKI, S., ALOBAIDI, R., ALMUFTI, S., ... & ABDULGHAFFAR, H. K. (2024). The prevalence of existential anxiety and its association with depression, general anxiety, and stress in Saudi university students. Middle East Current Psychiatry, 31(1), 47.
- ALTUNIŞIK, R, COŞKUN, R. BAYRAKTAROĞLU, S. & YILDIRIM, E. (2007). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri: SPSS uygulamalı: Sakarya yayıncılık.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Communication Studies
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Early Pub Date
April 29, 2026
Publication Date
May 5, 2026
Submission Date
February 5, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 27, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 1