Impact Of Perceived Phubbing on Emotional Regulation and Fomo Among Young Adults in India

Phubbing—the act of ignoring someone in favor of using a smartphone—has emerged as a prevalent issue in digital-age interpersonal communication. This study examined the impact of perceived phubbing on fear of missing out (FoMO) and emotion regulation strategies, specifically cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, among young adults in India. A sample of 213 college students completed the Generic Scale of Phubbing (GSP), the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOS), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between perceived phubbing and FoMO, r = .184, p < .01, indicating that individuals who reported higher levels of phubbing also experienced greater FoMO. However, no significant relationships were observed between phubbing and emotion regulation strategies—cognitive reappraisal (r = .037, p = .587) and expressive suppression (r = .036, p = .595)—nor between these strategies and FoMO. Regression analysis confirmed that perceived phubbing significantly predicted FoMO (β = .184, p = .007), but not emotion regulation components. These findings suggest that perceived social exclusion via phubbing increases vulnerability to FoMO but does not significantly impact emotion regulation abilities. Interventions aimed at reducing FoMO may benefit from focusing on improving social presence and digital etiquette rather than solely on internal emotional coping mechanisms.