Fear of missing out mediates the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and problematic smartphone use severity

Despite the widespread use of smartphones, not all users develop problematic use. Understanding the pathways that lead from healthy to Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) is essential for uncovering underlying mechanisms and informing effective prevention strategies. Building on theoretical models of PSU, this study explores a maladaptive regulatory-focused pathway linking Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) to PSU through Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) as a mediator. Although previous research has linked IU, FoMO, and PSU in pairs, few studies have examined these constructs simultaneously within a unified explanatory framework. By integrating them into a theoretically grounded mediation model, this study offers a more comprehensive understanding of psychological mechanisms that may underlie PSU. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 343 U.S. undergraduate students, recruited through a university research pool in exchange for course credit. Participants completed self-report measures of IU, FoMO, and PSU. Using structural equation modeling, we examined a mediation model incorporating latent variables for IU, FoMO, and PSU, assessing both direct and indirect effects of IU on PSU through FoMO. Results indicated that IU showed a positive association with FoMO, which was further associated with elevated PSU levels. The direct association between IU and PSU was non-significant. These findings support theoretical models positing that personal predispositions, such as IU, contribute to PSU through Internet-related cognitive biases like FoMO. Preventive initiatives should focus on raising awareness about the adverse effects of IU and FoMO on PSU and promoting strategies to effectively manage IU and FoMO, potentially reducing the risk of PSU.