The mediating role of social anxiety, loneliness and perfectionism in the relationship between fear of missing out (FoMO) and digital addiction

The primary objective of this study is to examine the mediating roles of social anxiety, loneliness, and perfectionism in the relationship between fear of missing out (FoMO) and digital addiction. This study employed a quantitative correlational design to examine the mediating roles of loneliness, social anxiety, and perfectionism in the relationship between FoMO and digital addiction. The sample consisted of 2,372 young adults aged 18–30 in Turkey. Data were collected online using validated self-report scales administered through Google Forms. Analyses were conducted using SPSS 25.0 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Correlation analyses revealed that digital addiction was positively associated with social anxiety andFoMO, but negatively related to perfectionism and loneliness. Mediation analysis using PROCESS Model 4 indicated that FoMO significantly predicted digital addiction, both directly and indirectly through social anxiety. The mediating effects of loneliness and perfectionism were nonsignificant. These results suggest that individuals with higher FoMO are more prone to digital addiction, primarily due to increased social anxiety. The research findings were discussed within a theoretical and conceptual framework, and similarities and differences in the literature were highlighted.