FoMO and Psychological Distress Mediate the Relationship Between Life Satisfaction, Problematic Smartphone Use, and Problematic Social Media Use

Abstract Low life satisfaction has often been associated with problematic social media use (PSMU), problematic smartphone use (PSU), FoMO and psychological distress. However, no studies have analyzed the relationship between life satisfaction, PSMU, PSU, FoMO, and psychological distress, in an integrated model. The present study hypothesized that life satisfaction may influence PSMU and PSU through the role of FoMO and psychological distress. A cross-sectional survey completed by 537 Italians (82.9% females [ n = 445] and 17.1% males [ n = 92], mean age = 35.35 years [SD ± 12.14]), included the Satisfaction With Life Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and Fear of Missing Out Scale. The results indicated direct negative associations between life satisfaction and both PSMU and PSU. Additionally, the findings indicated that both FoMO and psychological distress acted as full mediators in this complex relationship, suggesting that problematic technology use may be driven by emotional vulnerabilities such as fear of social exclusion and heightened levels of psychological distress. The present study contributes to understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying the relationship between life satisfaction, fear of missing out, psychological distress, and problematic technology use, offering insights for potential interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of technology on well-being.