Understanding cyberloafing in higher education: the role of fear of missing out and smartphone addiction

Purpose Guided by the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) framework, this paper will examine the predictive role of fear of missing out (FoMO) and smartphone addiction on cyberloafing among university students in India. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a quantitative, predictive correlational research design. Data were collected from 306 university students enrolled at a state university in Haryana, India, through a structured online questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed with the help of SPSS Version 22, with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis, to assess the correlation between the variables. Findings The findings indicate that psychological (FoMO) and behavioral (smartphone addiction) factors are major causes of cyberloafing in institutions of higher education. Practical implications This study has significant implications for higher education. Institutions need to establish policies that can control smartphone use in classrooms and enhance discipline among students. To help university students address their FoMO, administrators should set up programs to raise awareness and enhance student engagement. Originality/value This paper builds upon the existing literature by showing that FoMO and smartphone addiction have a significant independent effect on cyberloafing in the Indian higher education scenario, providing a more profound insight into how digital distraction impacts students.