Problematic Social Media Use in Working Adults: Examining the Influence of Online and Offline Need Satisfaction and Fear of Missing Out

The effect of social media (SM) use on mental health and well-being is a controversial subject among public and scientific discourses, especially since the emergence of problematic usage patterns characterised by addiction-like behaviours. Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), this cross-sectional study explores the associations between need satisfaction in SM and offline domains and the fear of missing out (FoMo) and PSMU. The study recruited a convenience sample of 186 adults aged 18-58 (M= 38.61, SD= 10.18). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the predictive ability of need satisfaction in SM and offline, as well as FoMo on PSMU, after controlling for age and the number of SM accounts. The complete predictive model accounted for 33.8% of the variance in PSMU, with predictors within the SDT framework contributing significantly to the incremental variance beyond the control variables, uniquely explaining 22.5% of the variance. FoMo emerged as the strongest predictor of PSMU (β= .41, p < .001), followed by need satisfaction in the SM domain (β= –.21, p < .05), while need satisfaction in the offline domain showed no significant association. These findings support the role of FoMo and need deficits in the SM domain as significant vulnerability factors for PSMU, suggesting a domain-specific compensatory mechanism. This research extends the current understanding of PSMU predictors beyond the commonly studied adolescent and young adult populations, highlighting the relevance of digital wellbeing interventions for working adults across different generations. Key words: Problematic Social Media Use, Self-Determination Theory, Fear of Missing Out, Need Satisfaction, Digital Wellbeing