The effect of social media addiction on leisure attitude: The mediating role of the fear of missing out (FoMO) and the moderating effect of the need to belong

Leisure is an opportunity for relaxation, enjoyment, and rejuvenation. Often, actively utilizing leisure is a prerequisite for internal satisfaction. Being aware of the importance of leisure creates opportunities to achieve more balance, happiness, and personal development in life. Therefore, it is important to fully understand the value of leisure and have positive attitudes towards it. In light of this information, the following objectives have been adopted for the research in order to identify the variables that positively or negatively affect leisure attitude (LA) and develop recommendations based on the obtained results: (a) determining the relationship between social media addiction (SMA) and LA; (b) determining the relationship between SMA and the fear of missing out (FoMO); (c) determining the relationship between SMA and the need to belong (NTB); (d) determining the relationship between FoMO and LA; (e) determining the relationship between NTB and FoMO; (f) determining the relationship between NTB and LA; (g) determining the mediating effect of FoMO on the relationship between SMA and LA; (h) determining the moderating effect of NTB on the relationship between SMA and FoMO; (i) determining the moderating effect of NTB on the relationship between FoMO and LA; (j) determining the moderating effect of NTB on the relationship between SMA and LA. The study population consisted of students enrolled in the Recreation Management program (270 students) at Necmettin Erbakan University's Faculty of Tourism. The ideal sample size, representative of the population, was determined as 159 students using the Sample Size Calculator program (with a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error); however, data were collected from 220 students. The data were collected through a survey using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Leisure Attitude Scale (LAS), Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOS), and Need To Belong Scale (NTBS). Following data analysis, the construct validity and reliability of the measurement tools were retested. The mean distributions of the measurement tools were analyzed, and hypothesis testing was conducted using Process Model 4 and Process Model 59 in the SPSS program. The study has shown the following results: (a) there was no relationship between SMA and LA; (b) there was a positive relationship between SMA and FoMO; (c) there was a positive relationship between SMA and NTB; (d) there was no relationship between FoMO and LA (although there was a positive relationship between FoMO and behavioral LA); (e) there was a positive relationship between NTB and FoMO; (f) there was a positive relationship between NTB and LA; (g) the relationship between SMA and LA was not mediated by FoMO; (h) the relationship between SMA and FoMO was not moderated by NTB; (i) the relationship between FoMO and LA was positively moderated by NTB; (j) the relationship between SMA and LA was not moderated by NTB. The findings of the study are discussed in the relevant section, and recommendations are developed based on the results obtained.