The Relationship Between Fear of Missing Out, Academic Burnout, and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Chinese College Students: An Empirical Analysis Based on Structural Equation Modeling.

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between fear of missing out (FoMO), academic burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress among Chinese college students, and to examine the mediating role of academic burnout.

PARTICIPANTS AND

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 883 college students from three universities in Anhui and Hubei provinces, China. Participants completed validated scales measuring FoMO, academic burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the direct and indirect effects.

RESULTS

FoMO showed significant positive correlations with academic burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress. Academic burnout significantly mediated the relationships between FoMO and each of the three psychological outcomes. The partial mediation model demonstrated good fit (CFI=0.989, TLI=0.976, RMSEA=0.064). FoMO showed positive associations with depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as associations via academic burnout.

CONCLUSION

FoMO is not only associated with depression, anxiety, and stress but also associated with these outcomes through academic burnout. These findings provide preliminary correlational evidence that highlight the potential relevance of FoMO and academic burnout as correlates of mental health.