An examination of FOMO within the framework of the cognitive-behavioral approach: The mediating role of cognitive distortions and metacognitions in the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use

With the advancement of technology, almost all people use smartphones. Smartphones, in addition to providing some advantages to people, can cause many psychological problems such as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and problematic smartphone use. These psychological problems have recently become widespread, especially in young age groups, and can seriously threaten the health of these groups. Therefore, it is thought that it is important to determine the mechanisms that may underlie FOMO and problematic smartphone use and to develop a treatment plan for these psychological problems. From this point on, the current study, inspired by the cognitive-behavioral model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), compares FOMO to the anxiety that accompanies obsessions, and problematic smartphone use to the compulsive behavior exhibited to alleviate this anxiety. In addition, in the current study, which examines FOMO and problematic smartphone use with a cognitive-behavioral approach, it is assumed that FOMO represents negative emotion and problematic smartphone use represents negative behavior, and that mental processes may also accompany this relationship. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating effects of mental processes such as cognitive distortions, metacognitions and their subscales, which are known to be associated with OCD, on the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use. A total of 386 individuals, aged between 18 and 36, who had not received psychopharmacological treatment in the last 6 months, participated in the study.The sample group of the present study consisted of 269 female (%69.7) and 117 male (%30.3) participants, and the mean age of the participants was 23.67 (SD = 3.79). The data collection tools in the present study were the Demographic Information Form, Fear of Missing Out Scale (FOMO), Cognitive Distortion Scale (CFS), Metacognitions Scale-30 (MCS-30) and Problematic Mobile Phone Use Scale (PMPTUS). According to the findings, FOMO, problematic smartphone use, cognitive distortions and metacognitions are positively and significantly related to each other at a medium-high level. It was understood that these main variables of the present study were not significantly related to age. In addition, it was observed that FOMO and problematic smartphone use differed significantly according to gender, phone use duration and social media use frequency. The findings regarding demographic variables are presented in detail. As a result of the mediation analyses conducted, it was discovered that cognitive distortions and metacognitions have a partial mediation effect in the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use. In addition, it was determined that hopelessness, a sub-dimension of BCI, and cognitive confidence, a sub-dimension of MCQ-30, have a partial mediation role in the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use. In the literature, no study was found that examined the relationship between FOMO and cognitive distortions, or examined the mediation effects of cognitive distortions and metacognitions together in the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use. In addition, the present study is the first known study to reveal the similarity of the relationship between FOMO and problematic smartphone use to OCD and to address this relationship with a cognitive-behavioral approach. In conclusion, the present study discovered that the relationship between the feeling of FOMO and problematic smartphone use behavior is mediated by mental processes such as cognitive distortions and metacognitions. In particular, it revealed the role of hopelessness cognitive distortion and cognitive insecurity in this relationship. Therefore, it is predicted that the application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), addressing cognitive distortions and metacognitions, and working on hopelessness and cognitive insecurity may be beneficial in the treatment of FOMO and problematic smartphone use. Keywords: FOMO, problematic smartphone use, cognitive distortions, metacognitions, cognitive-behavioral approach