Digital fatigue and job burnout among nurses: serial indirect associations through fear of missing out and perceived stress

Background Digital systems are integral to nursing practice, but sustained digital engagement may be accompanied by fatigue. The roles of general fear of missing out (FoMO) and perceived stress in the association between digital fatigue and nurses’ job burnout remain unclear. Guided by conservation of resources theory, this study examined the separate and serial indirect associations through FoMO and perceived stress. Method A cross-sectional survey included 554 clinical nurses recruited by convenience sampling from five tertiary Grade A hospitals in Hunan, China, between January and May 2026. Self-report measures assessed the four constructs. Structural equation modeling with bootstrap confidence intervals examined the proposed associations. Results Digital fatigue remained positively associated with job burnout when FoMO and perceived stress were included in the model. Positive indirect associations were identified through each variable separately and through FoMO followed by perceived stress (effect = 0.041, 95% CI [0.021, 0.066]). Conclusion Digital fatigue was positively associated with nurses’ job burnout, both directly and indirectly through general FoMO and perceived stress. Hospital managers could assess digital fatigue, stress, and burnout when reviewing digital workflows. Clearer expectations for responding to work messages and protected recovery time warrant prospective evaluation, including effects on staff wellbeing, workflow, and patient safety.