A study of social media fatigue, fear of missing out, and depressive symptoms among UTAR students

Pang, Hui Yun (2026) A study of social media fatigue, fear of missing out, and depressive symptoms among UTAR students. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Social Media Fatigue (SMF) and Depressive Symptoms among university students. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, using university students at UTAR as the sample. Data were collected using the Social Media Fatigue Scale (SMFS), the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FOMOS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results from Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between social media fatigue and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) was not only significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms but also showed a significant positive association with social media fatigue. These findings support Beck’s cognitive model framework, further confirming that digital social stressors trigger negative cognitive schemas, thereby leading to impaired mental health. The study’s findings underscore the necessity for higher education institutions to formulate digital wellbeing and counselling policies to assist students in identifying and alleviating the cognitive burden and emotional distress caused by social media at an early stage.

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