Cyberbullying, Fear of Missing Out and Self-Perception in Adolescents

Abstract

In recent years many parents and researchers have expressed concerns regarding the potential negative impact of social media use on adolescents. Some studies have indicated that social media use may be tied to negative mental health outcomes. Other studies have not found evidence for harm or have indicated that social media use may be beneficial for some individuals. The current correlational study examined 417 adolescents from different Pakistani school and college students for their time spent using social media, and the importance of social media in their lives. The research investigated the relationship among cyberbullying, fear of missing out (FOMO), and self-perception by checking whether cyberbullying is a predictor of self-perception while fear of missing out acted as a mediator. Key findings include significant correlations between these factors, indicating that higher levels of cyberbullying and fear of missing out are associated with negative self-perception in adolescents. Results indicated that cyberbullying was not predictive of self-perception while fear of missing out acted as a mediator. However, cyberbullying was predictive of fear of missing out, suggesting this may be particularly relevant in leading to increased levels of mental health issues in cyberbullying victims. The study contributes to understanding the psychological impacts of digital technology use among young individuals and suggests the need for strategies to mitigate these negative effects. Finally, the theoretical implications of our findings on the relationship between these variables and the mental health issues of adolescent victims of cyberbullying are discussed.