HRPYC81 PRO2 ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO): A LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Conceptualising FoMO as a Psychological Experience
The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is defined as the apprehension that others might be
having rewarding experiences from which one is absent, accompanied by a desire to
stay continually connected to what others are doing (Przybylski et al., 2013, p. 1841).
Although social media platforms e.g., Instagram, TikTok) amplify FoMO by providing
constant streams of social information, the construct is not reducible to technology use;
rather, it reflects a fundamental psychological state related to belonging, self‑worth, and
social comparison.
Early conceptualisations treated FoMO as a unidimensional trait, measured by the
widely used 10‑item Fear of Missing Out Scale (Przybylski et al., 2013). More recent
research distinguishes between trait FoMO (a stable individual difference) and state
FoMO (a temporary feeling triggered by situational cues, such as seeing friends’ posts).
Additionally, some authors differentiate general FoMO (concern about missing out on
social events and experiences) from specific FoMOs (e.g., academic or work‑related
FoMO), though the core mechanism fear of social exclusion and loss of rewarding
opportunities remains consistent.
THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO): A LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Conceptualising FoMO as a Psychological Experience
The Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is defined as the apprehension that others might be
having rewarding experiences from which one is absent, accompanied by a desire to
stay continually connected to what others are doing (Przybylski et al., 2013, p. 1841).
Although social media platforms e.g., Instagram, TikTok) amplify FoMO by providing
constant streams of social information, the construct is not reducible to technology use;
rather, it reflects a fundamental psychological state related to belonging, self‑worth, and
social comparison.
Early conceptualisations treated FoMO as a unidimensional trait, measured by the
widely used 10‑item Fear of Missing Out Scale (Przybylski et al., 2013). More recent
research distinguishes between trait FoMO (a stable individual difference) and state
FoMO (a temporary feeling triggered by situational cues, such as seeing friends’ posts).
Additionally, some authors differentiate general FoMO (concern about missing out on
social events and experiences) from specific FoMOs (e.g., academic or work‑related
FoMO), though the core mechanism fear of social exclusion and loss of rewarding
opportunities remains consistent.
