Insomnia as a Behavioral Pathway from Fear of Missing Out to Depression in Emerging Adults

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Fear of missing out (FOMO) refers to the pervasive experience of worrying that others may be having rewarding or meaningful experiences from which one is absent or excluded. FOMO has been linked with both sleep disturbances and poor mental health outcomes, particularly in emerging adults (ages 18–29). This study tested whether insomnia symptoms mediate the relationship between FOMO and depressive symptoms in emerging adults and whether gender moderates the links between FOMO, insomnia symptoms, and depression symptoms. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from 849 emerging adults in the United States. Participants completed validated measures of FOMO, insomnia symptoms, and depression symptoms. We tested our hypotheses using regression models in SPSS version 29 and mediation and moderation models via the PROCESS macro. Analyses included age, race/ethnicity, and education as covariates. Results: FOMO predicted greater insomnia severity and more depression symptoms, and insomnia severity partially mediated the link between FOMO and depression symptoms. The FOMO–insomnia association was moderated by gender, with a stronger link among men. Conclusions: These findings suggest that insomnia is a plausible mechanism linking FOMO to depression in emerging adults. Gender differences suggest that FOMO may disproportionately disrupt sleep in men and highlight the need for tailored prevention efforts to target both FOMO and sleep disruption among emerging adults.