Relationship between Fear of Missing out (FOMO) and Decisional Conflict: The Mediating Role of Rumination Among Young Adults

The present study examines the relationship between Fear of Missing Out, rumination and Decisional Conflict among young adults in Kerala, India which is a collectivistic culture. The study used a cross-sectional correlational design to investigate whether Rumination mediates the relationship between FOMO and Decisional Conflict. A sample of 157 young adults (100 females, 57 males, mean age = 21.5) was selected using convenience sampling. Participants completed responding to measures of FOMO, Decisional Conflict and Rumination through online survey. Significant positive correlation between FOMO and decisional conflict (r=0.34, p<0.001) as well as between rumination and decisional conflict (r = 036, p< 0.001) was revealed in Pearson correlation analysis. Mediation analysis revealed that rumination partially mediates the relationship between FOMO and decisional conflict. This suggest that the individuals with higher levels of FOMO are more likely to engage in rumination which in turn aggravate difficulty in decision making. The findings of this study highlight the psychological mechanism existing in decision making challenges in digital age and emphasize the need for interventions to reduce the impact of FOMO on cognitive and emotional wellbeing of individuals Future researches may explore cultural variations and other possible mediating factors influencing the relationship between FOMO and Decisional Conflict.