Navigation
The impact of fear of missing out (FoMO) on addictive eating: a moderated mediation model
The contemporary psychological phenomenon known as Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has implications that extend to eating behaviors, particularly addictive eating. This study aimed to explore how FoMO correlates with addictive eating, considering factors such as reward-related eating and mental well-being, specifically anxiety, depression, and stress.
A total of 227 adults participated in an online survey, with a mean age of 49.4 years, predominantly female (79.3%). The survey instruments employed included the Yale Food Addiction Scale for assessing addictive eating, the Fear of Missing Out Scale for measuring FoMO, the Reward-Based Eating Drive Scale for reward-related eating, and standardized questionnaires for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-8), and perceived stress (PSS-4).
The analysis revealed a direct correlation between FoMO and addictive eating. Notably, this relationship was partially mediated by reward-related eating, while also controlling for body mass index (BMI) and gender. Furthermore, the severity of anxiety emerged as a significant moderator between the levels of reward-related eating and the symptoms of addictive eating.
These findings underscore the importance of addressing FoMO in relation to eating behaviors, particularly in individuals susceptible to anxiety, offering valuable insights for developing interventions aimed at reducing its adverse effects. [NPID: Addictive eating, anxiety, depression, reward-based eating, BMI, FoMo]
Year: 2026
