Phone disconnects, anxiety kicks in: A daily diary study of the dynamic reciprocal relationship between nomophobia and fear of missing out among college students.

As smartphones become increasingly integrated into daily life, the growing prevalence of nomophobia and fear of missing out (FoMO) among college students has garnered considerable attention from both researchers and the public. Although previous research has identified FoMO as a key predictor of nomophobia, little is known about the dynamic interplay between these two constructs in everyday contexts. Using a daily diary approach, 200 Chinese college students were intensively tracked over 21 consecutive days. Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) was employed to examine the bidirectional relationship between nomophobia and FoMO. The results indicated that, at the within-person level, higher levels of FoMO significantly predicted increased nomophobia symptoms, which in turn further elevated FoMO, forming a vicious feedback loop. At the between-person level, a significant positive association was observed between nomophobia and FoMO. These findings offer both theoretical implications and practical guidance for understanding the psychological challenges specific to the digital era and for developing effective interventions targeted at this population.