When the fear of being left behind becomes a burden: A correlational study between fear of missing out and psychological distress among millennials

Life in the modern era has been characterized by increased social media use and heightened psychological pressures among millennials, including anxiety, stress, and depression. Fear of missing out (FoMO), defined as the apprehension of being left behind from others’ social experiences, may contribute to elevated psychological distress. This study aimed to examine the relationship between FoMO and psychological distress among millennials. This study employed a quantitative approach with a bivariate correlational cross-sectional design. A total of 298 millennials aged 28–42 years who were active social media users participated in this study, selected incidental sampling. Data were collected using the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOS) and the K-10 Psychological Distress Scale. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation. The results indicated a significant positive relationship between FoMO and psychological distress (r = .200, p < .01). This finding suggests that increases or decreases in FoMO levels among millennials are associated with corresponding increases or decreases in psychological distress. These findings highlight the important role of FoMO in explaining fluctuations in psychological distress among millennials living in an intensive digital environment