The moderating role of social media usage in the relationship between self-confidence and fear of missing out among high school students
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Social media use has shown various adverse effects on student well-being, including fear of missing out (FoMO). This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of social media usage on the relationship between self-confidence and FoMO. This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative survey across social media platforms in Makassar, Indonesia. The participants were 385 high school students who frequently used social media, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years, living in Makassar, Indonesia. They were recruited through social media platforms and invited to participate in the study. This study administered the self-confidence scale and the FoMO scale. Confirmatory factor analysis and the moderated regression analysis technique by Hayes were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that self-confidence was negatively associated with FoMO among student users of social media. On the other hand, social media usage moderated the direct effect of self-confidence on FoMO, in which students with high exposure to social media tended to show a stronger negative relationship between self-confidence and FoMO. Students, as social media users, should develop self-confidence to prevent the emergence of FoMO and access social media content with greater consideration and mindfulness, particularly when they have low self-confidence.
Source: Cogent Psychology
Authors: Basti Tetteng, Hillman Wirawan, Nur Rahma, Eva Meizara Puspita Dewi
Institutions: State University of Makassar, Hasanuddin University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,134
OpenAlex ID: W4417501928