The Impact of Problematic Social Media Use on Inhibitory Control and the Role of Fear of Missing Out: Evidence from Event-Related Potentials

Figures & data

Table 1 Valence, Arousal, Familiarity and Social Media Relevant Scores of Stimuli Pictures (M±SD)

Rating Items	Neutral	High Social Media	Low Social Media
Valence	5.45±0.63	5.44±0.79	5.39±0.46
Arousal	4.11±0.81	4.54±1.03	4.10±0.80
Familiarity	5.43±1.16	5.60±1.85	4.87±1.57
Social media relevant	2.63±0.68	6.28±1.08	5.26±0.70

Abbreviations: M, mean value; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 The sequence of events in the experimental trial and an example of standard stimuli and deviant stimuli (high social media). Each trial presented a single stimulus.

Figure 2 (A) RT and ACC for standard and deviant stimuli; (B) RT and ACC for picture types (HSM, LSM and neutral) in the deviant stimuli.

Notes: Bars represent standard error of the mean. ***p < 0.001.

Abbreviations: ns, no significance; RT, reaction time; ACC, accuracy; high, high social media; low, low social media.

Figure 3 (A) The grand means of the difference ERP waveforms of the high social media, low social media and neutral pictures. Difference ERPs were calculated by averaging the data at the electrodes of Fz, Cz, FCz, and Pz; (B) Topographic maps for P3 (370-600ms) and N2 (240-320ms).

Figure 4 (A and B) Regression analyses between PSMU and N2 amplitudes; (C and D) Regression analyses between PSMU and P3 amplitudes.

Abbreviations: HSM, high social media; LSM, low social media; PSMU, problematic social media use.

Table 2 Descriptive Statistics and Correlation Analysis of Each Variable (N = 66)

Variable	M±SD	1	2	3	4	5
1. PSMU	66.33±15.18	1
2. FoMO	24.15±6.62	0.52***	1
3. P3 amplitude (HSM)	5.95±3.25	–0.25*	–0.35**	1
4. P3 amplitude (LSM)	5.17±3.21	–0.27*	–0.40**	0.88***	1
5. P3 amplitude (Neutral)	–1.01±3.07	–0.20	–0.19	0.70***	0.66***	1

Notes: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. P3 amplitude was deviant minus standard difference wave.

Abbreviations: PSMU, problematic social media use; FoMO, fear of missing out; HSM, high social media, LSM, low social media.

Table 3 Mediating Effect Test of FoMO in the HSM Pictures (N = 66)

Predictive Variable	Result Variables	Step 1: P3 Amplitude		Step 2: FoMO		Step 3: P3 Amplitude
		β	t	β	t	β	t
PSMU		–0.25	–2.06*	0.52	4.87***	–0.10	–0.70
FOMO						–0.30	–2.14*
R^2		0.06		0.27		0.13
F		4.25*		23.67***		4.54*

Notes: *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. All variables are brought into the regression equation using standardized variables.

Abbreviations: PSMU, problematic social media use; FoMO, fear of missing out; HSM, high social media.

Table 4 Mediating Effect Test of FoMO in the LSM Pictures (N = 66)

Predictive Variable	Result Variables	Step 1: P3 Amplitude		Step 2: FoMO		Step 3: P3 Amplitude
		β	t	β	t	β	t
PSMU		–0.27	–2.23*	0.52	4.87***	–0.08	–0.61
FOMO						–0.36	–2.67**
R^2		0.07		0.27		0.17
F		4.97*		23.67***		6.28**

Notes: *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. All variables are brought into the regression equation using standardized variables.

Abbreviations: PSMU, problematic social media use; FoMO, fear of missing out; LSM, low social media.

Figure 5 (A) Theoretical model of the role of FoMO in the relationship between PSMU and P3 amplitude (HSM); (B)Theoretical model of the role of FoMO in the relationship between PSMU and P3 amplitude (LSM).

Notes: All variables are brought into the regression equation using standardized variables. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Abbreviations: HSM, high social media; LSM, low social media; PSMU, problematic social media use; FoMO, fear of missing out.