Scientists link ‘fear of missing out’ with illicit behaviour

It’s already known that ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO) – the belief that people are having fun without us – can cause mental health issues.

But a new study suggests the psychological phenomenon can also make youngsters more prone to breaking the law. 

Researchers in Connecticut surveyed college students about their levels of FOMO and whether they engaged in illicit behaviours. 

Higher levels of FOMO were linked with drugs and alcohol consumption, stealing and ‘incivility’ in the classroom, the academics found. 

In the new study, fear of missing out (FOMO) is linked with drugs and alcohol consumption, stealing and classroom incivility (file photo)

The new study has been led by researchers at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and published today in PLOS One. 

The experts say in their paper: ‘Stuck finishing work with approaching deadlines you decline your colleagues’ invitation to a local restaurant, but you feel uneasy that you are missing out on the fun? 

‘This uneasiness is the fear of missing out (FOMO)… chronic apprehension that one is missing rewarding/fun experiences peers are experiencing.

‘This study examined the relationship of trait level FOMO in college students and engagement in maladaptive behaviours through the lens of traditional statistical modeling and supervised machine learning. 

‘Overall, the results indicate that higher levels of FOMO does predict greater engagement in academic misconduct, alcohol drinking, illegal drug use, and other illegal behaviours.’ 

The experts can’t be sure that FOMO causes illicit behaviours, although it is possible there’s a common trigger for both factors in certain personality types. 

FOMO is a term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. 

It includes two processes – firstly, a perception of missing out on a positive experience, followed up with a compulsive behaviour to maintain these social connections (such as using our smartphone). 

In prior studies, FOMO has been linked with poor sleep, increased depression and anxiety and negative effects on academic performance.

But the researchers wanted to see if it could facilitate ‘maladaptive behaviours and psychological problems’ for students at college, which is an ‘intimidating’ novel environment. 

For the study, 472 college students from an unnamed ‘Northeastern university’ completed a questionnaire assessing FOMO levels, unethical and illegal behaviour while in college and demographic variables, such as socioeconomic status. 

FoMO is a term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. It includes two processes – firstly, a perception of missing out on a positive experience, followed up with a compulsive behaviour to maintain these social connections ,such as using our smartphone (file photo)

The researchers analysed this data both by using standard statistical approaches and by applying a machine learning algorithm. 

With the first analysis approach, the team discovered associations between FOMO and nearly all the behaviours they examined. 

Higher FOMO was correlated with stealing, higher rates of classroom incivility, plagiarism, greater weekly alcohol consumption, lower age when beginning drinking alcohol and illegal activities including giving away drugs. 

High FOMO levels were also linked with an increased use of cannabis, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens. 

Student explains FOMO in TED Talk 

The machine learning algorithm found similar associations and highlighted the modifying effect of living situation, socioeconomic status and gender on several of the relationships.  

The authors suggest that a brief FOMO assessment, including just 10 questions, may be valuable for counselors who assist students in the transition to college or university.

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‘These results suggest that FOMO exists not just as an aversive phenomenon, but it also leads to concrete consequences for individuals and society,’ the team conclude.

FOMO has also been linked with how we use our smartphones – a study published earlier this year found people with FOMO checked their phones more when notifications were muted.

Overall, whether or not people suffered FOMO, muting notifications can be ‘psychologically distressing’ and makes people check their phone more – not less.