Fear of Missing Out as a transdiagnostic mechanism: a systematic review of the role of mediation and moderation in digital mental health
Keywords:
Fear of missing out , digital mental healt, social media use, problematic smartphone use, transdiagnostic approachAbstract
The purpose of this study is to integrate the role of FoMO as both a mediator and moderator and to place the model within a transdiagnostic perspective. The approach used in this study was a Systematic Literature Review using the PRISMA 2020 protocol and analyzed through a thematic synthesis approach. Thirty-three scientific articles published between 2016 and 2026 were analyzed. The analysis found that FoMO consistently acts as a psychological mechanism linking factors with various maladaptive outcomes. These factors include anxiety, stress, and social media use, while maladaptive outcomes include digital addiction, social media fatigue, and decreased psychological well-being. FoMO functions as a mediator between social media use and mental health, also participating in a mediation model with protective variables such as mindfulness and self-control. Furthermore, FoMO has been associated with various psychological disorders across various populations and contexts. This confirms that FoMO has transdiagnostic characteristics. Based on these findings, interventions based on self-regulation and psychological awareness are needed to reduce the negative impact of FoMO, and further research is needed in a more integrative and longitudinal direction.
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