The Relationships Between Self-Control and Distress Among Emerging Adults: A Serial Mediating Roles of Fear of Missing Out and Social Media Addiction

Previous studies have confirmed that poor self-control, fear of missing out (FoMO), and social media addiction are potential risk factors for young mental health. However, the relationships between self-control, FoMO, social media addiction, and emerging adult distress have received relatively little attention in empirical studies. In this regard, drawing on the self-determination theory (SDT), the current study investigates the serial mediating roles of FoMO and social media addictions between self-control and distress (depression, anxiety, stress). 866 students studying at seven different state universities in Turkey participated in this study (M age = 20.8, SD = 1.42). The findings revealed significant relationships between self-control, FoMO, social media addiction, and distress. The findings also support the proposed serial mediating model. In other words, the lack of self-control predicted greater FoMO, which in turn predicted increased social media addiction, which in turn ultimately predicted higher distress. Overall, these results suggested that the lack of self-control is a risk factor for mental health and that social media addiction and FoMO also increase this risk.