The Mechanisms of Social Media-Induced Anxiety: An S-O-R Perspective on FoMO, Social Comparison, Information Overload, and Meritocracy among University Students

Amid growing concerns over the psychological impacts of social media on Chinese university students, this study employs the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework to investigate how Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), Social Comparison, information overload, and meritocracy (stimuli) influence anxiety (response) through the mediating role of stress (organism). Drawing on data from 327 RedNote users, the results revealed that FoMO, social comparison, information overload, and meritocracy are all positively associated with stress, which in turn significantly influences anxiety. While Meritocracy exhibited no direct relationship with anxiety, its indirect effect via stress was significant. These findings underscore stress as a critical mediator, highlighting platform-specific mechanisms that exacerbate anxiety. This research advances the S-O-R model by integrating novel variables. It offers actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and social media platforms to mitigate digital stressors and foster healthier online engagement.