Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder

Some of the most frequently used online applications are Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. These applications allow individuals to communicate with other users, to share information or pictures, and to stay in contact with friends all over the world. However, a growing number of users suffer from neg...

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Main Authors: Elisa Wegmann, Ursula Oberst, Benjamin Stodt, Matthias Brand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2017-06-01
Series:Addictive Behaviors Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285321730007X
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author Elisa Wegmann
Ursula Oberst
Benjamin Stodt
Matthias Brand
author_facet Elisa Wegmann
Ursula Oberst
Benjamin Stodt
Matthias Brand
author_sort Elisa Wegmann
collection DOAJ
description Some of the most frequently used online applications are Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. These applications allow individuals to communicate with other users, to share information or pictures, and to stay in contact with friends all over the world. However, a growing number of users suffer from negative consequences due to their excessive use of these applications, which can be referred to as Internet-communication disorder. The frequent use and easy access of these applications may also trigger the individual's fear of missing out on content when not accessing these applications. Using a sample of 270 participants, a structural equation model was analyzed to investigate the role of psychopathological symptoms and the fear of missing out on expectancies towards Internet-communication applications in the development of symptoms of an Internet-communication disorder. The results suggest that psychopathological symptoms predict higher fear of missing out on the individual's Internet-communication applications and higher expectancies to use these applications as a helpful tool to escape from negative feelings. These specific cognitions mediate the effect of psychopathological symptoms on Internet-communication disorder. Our results are in line with the theoretical model by Brand et al. (2016) as they show how Internet-related cognitive bias mediates the relationship between a person's core characteristics (e.g., psychopathological symptoms) and Internet-communication disorder. However, further studies should investigate the role of the fear of missing out as a specific predisposition, as well as specific cognition in the online context.
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spelling doaj.art-ef053ab6d2a340488a97186756f2e5612022-12-21T19:07:44ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322017-06-015C334210.1016/j.abrep.2017.04.001Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorderElisa Wegmann0Ursula Oberst1Benjamin Stodt2Matthias Brand3Department of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, GermanyRamon Llull University Barcelona, SpainDepartment of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, GermanyDepartment of General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, GermanySome of the most frequently used online applications are Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. These applications allow individuals to communicate with other users, to share information or pictures, and to stay in contact with friends all over the world. However, a growing number of users suffer from negative consequences due to their excessive use of these applications, which can be referred to as Internet-communication disorder. The frequent use and easy access of these applications may also trigger the individual's fear of missing out on content when not accessing these applications. Using a sample of 270 participants, a structural equation model was analyzed to investigate the role of psychopathological symptoms and the fear of missing out on expectancies towards Internet-communication applications in the development of symptoms of an Internet-communication disorder. The results suggest that psychopathological symptoms predict higher fear of missing out on the individual's Internet-communication applications and higher expectancies to use these applications as a helpful tool to escape from negative feelings. These specific cognitions mediate the effect of psychopathological symptoms on Internet-communication disorder. Our results are in line with the theoretical model by Brand et al. (2016) as they show how Internet-related cognitive bias mediates the relationship between a person's core characteristics (e.g., psychopathological symptoms) and Internet-communication disorder. However, further studies should investigate the role of the fear of missing out as a specific predisposition, as well as specific cognition in the online context.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285321730007XInternet addictionInternet-use expectanciesFear of missing outFoMOSocial networking sitesOnline communicationInternet-communication disorder
spellingShingle Elisa Wegmann
Ursula Oberst
Benjamin Stodt
Matthias Brand
Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
Addictive Behaviors Reports
Internet addiction
Internet-use expectancies
Fear of missing out
FoMO
Social networking sites
Online communication
Internet-communication disorder
title Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
title_full Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
title_fullStr Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
title_full_unstemmed Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
title_short Online-specific fear of missing out and Internet-use expectancies contribute to symptoms of Internet-communication disorder
title_sort online specific fear of missing out and internet use expectancies contribute to symptoms of internet communication disorder
topic Internet addiction
Internet-use expectancies
Fear of missing out
FoMO
Social networking sites
Online communication
Internet-communication disorder
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235285321730007X
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