Your FOMO is not about the party
It comes from running on empty
It comes from running on empty
Researchers built the first FOMO scale in 2013 and ran it on a representative cohort of 2,079 adults. FOMO was strongest in people low on three basics: feeling close to others, in charge of their own time, and capable at what they do. It also came with lower mood and lower life satisfaction across the board.
And it fades with age
WHAT THE FOMO STUDIES FOUND
| Getting older | FOMO fades |
| High FOMO | Lower mood |
| Scrolling with it | Feels good and bad at once |
| A night out | Doesn't switch it off |
Text your friends
The first big FOMO study found it was strongest in people who felt disconnected, not in people missing the best parties. It also fades as you get older. So when it hits, message the people you'd have gone out with.
Researchers built the first FOMO scale in 2013 and ran it on 2,079 adults: it was strongest in people low on connection, autonomy and competence, and came with measurably lower mood. A semester-long diary study found the feeling shows up even when you're out doing something you chose. And it fades with age.
Sources
Przybylski, Murayama, DeHaan & Gladwell (2013). "Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out." Computers in Human Behavior.
PLOS ONE scoping review of FOMO, digital technology use and wellbeing. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308643
