Action Research for Developing a Group Counseling Program to Regulate Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) in University Students

This study applied a participatory action research method to develop a group counseling program aimed at regulating FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) among university students and explored the implementation process in face-to-face, non-face-to-face, and hybrid formats. From July 2022 to January 2024, a repetitive cycle of program development, application, revision, and data collection was conducted. Ultimately, a four-session, 10-hour FoMO group counseling program was finalized, and its effectiveness was examined through qualitative analysis of participants' experiences. The analysis revealed three main categories, 10 subcategories, and 25 meaning units related to the participants’ experiences in the FoMO group counseling program. The main categories identified were: “Interacting by sharing similar stories,” “Discovering a new self within others,” and “Facing and addressing fears.”This study is significant in that it developed an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group counseling program that can flexibly adapt to face-to-face, non-face-to-face, or hybrid formats depending on participant circumstances to regulate FoMO in university students. Based on the study’s findings, limitations and suggestions for future research were also discussed.