Eremin R.A. Mindfulness as a coping with the “fear of missing out” in social networks

The results of an empirical study on mindfulness as a coping strategy for dealing with the “fear of missing out” syndrome on social media are presented in the article. The syndrome is defined as an anxious state in which individuals fear missing out on important or interesting events, and is often triggered by frequent use of social media. The article analyzes different approaches to studying this phenomenon, including results from recent international research and their conclusions. Currently, the “fear of missing out” syndrome is one of the most significant indicators of the impact of social media on individuals, attracting the attention of both researchers and ordinary internet users. The study presents data, obtained for the first time on a Russian sample through the validation and adaptation of a scale measuring the “fear of missing out” construct. The results of the factor analysis demonstrate a three-factor structure of this construct. Hypotheses regarding the relationship between mindfulness, coping strategies, and internet addiction are tested using correlation analysis and supported by statistically significant results obtained from a sample of 94 respondents (n = 94). The study's findings show that mindfulness is a specific type of coping strategy for dealing with the “fear of missing out” syndrome on social media. Overall, the study suggests that mindfulness can be considered as a new, more universal coping strategy for a wider range of problematic and stressful situations, rather than just a state of control in regulating an individual's mental state.

Key words: mindfulness, fear of missing out, coping, social networks

For citation: Eremin, R.A. (2023). Mindfulness as a coping with the “fear of missing out” in social networks. New Psychological Research, No. 2, 7–25. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2023_03_02_01