Do you have FOMO? The study says it’s not just about missing out on fun; About this…

FOMO (fear of missing out) has become one of the words we use the most. It refers to the fear of missing out on things that are important and interesting. However, a recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology says it’s not just about missing out on things that are fun; It is much more than that. Read this also Selfies and FOMO: Why are self-centered people on social media?

Studies show that fear of missing out is driven by missing out on opportunities to connect with people we care about. This fear arises from anxiety, driven by our innate need to be present in our relationships and social situations, and worry about how our absence might affect them.

Study findings:

The study was conducted on 5,441 participants from online platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk and Prolific. The participants were made to experience various situations to understand the real drivers and reasons behind the fear of missing out. Hypothetical scenarios, real social media browsing tasks, and experimental manipulation of event characteristics were used as methods in the experiment. Read this also How might FOMO be behind teens’ social media anxiety?

The study found that participants experienced the most FOMO when they missed events of their close friends and loved ones. Their FOMO increased when events involved social engagement. Read this also Is social media making you anxious? How using it better can boost your mental health

What triggers FOMO?

This proves that FOMO is triggered not only by the fear of missing out on fun, but also by the notion of building relationships and shared history.

Study author Jacqueline R., assistant professor of marketing in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, said: “I was surprised to find that people can feel a good deal of FOMO for missed events that aren’t enjoyable — like a funeral, consoling a grieving friend, or a busy graduation ceremony,” Rifkin tells PsyPost. For me, it really drove home the point that FOMO isn’t really about the entertainment we’re missing out on – it’s about the intangible connections people make when spending time together, including someone. sad or emotional thing But connection is involved. Read this also The ill effects of the digital workplace: How information overload and FOMO are causing stress and burnout

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.