College students’ loneliness and problematic mobile phone use: Mediation by fear of missing out

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between loneliness and problematic mobile phone use among university students, as well as the mediating role of fear of missing out in that relationship. College undergraduates (n = 233; female = 51.1%; first-year students = 12.9%; mean age = 22.50 years, SD =1.70 years) from several Chinese provinces completed the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, The shortened Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale, and the Fear of Missing Out Scale. Statistical analysis confirmed the positive correlation among loneliness, problematic mobile phone use, and fear of missing out. Following multiple regression analysis, results showed that demographic variables including age, sex, and place of hometown did not predict problematic mobile phone use. These findings suggest that the fear of missing out has a significant influence on how college students manage their loneliness and problematic mobile phone use.

Keywords:

• fear of missing out
• loneliness
• problematic mobile phone use
• mediating role
• psychological well-being
• university students

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Special Talent Program of Lingnan Normal University [ZW1602], Guangdong Educational Science Planning Grant [2018GXJK104], Open Project Program of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Development and Education for Special Needs Children [TJ202104], Yanling Excellent Young Teacher Program of Lingnan Normal University [YL20200201], and the 2022 Annual Research Project of Guangdong Education Association [GDES14298].