I don't want to miss a thing: Psychometric properties of the FoMO Scale and its mental health correlates in Indian Adolescents.

Résumé

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is a widespread apprehension that arises when people believe that others are engaging in enjoyable activities without their presence. The FoMO scale has been widely used, but confirmatory factor analysis is needed to validate its structure. This study aims to analyse the psychometric properties of the FoMO scale among Indian adolescents and explore its mental health correlates. The sample consisted of 708 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to evaluate the factor structure of the FoMO scale. Additionally, the study assessed psychological correlates using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. EFA revealed three factors: societal connectivity, social discomfort, and self-perception. CFA confirmed this structure with acceptable goodness-of-fit indices. The scale showed good reliability and validity. Although the correlations with psychological variables were not statistically significant, they do contribute to the contextual understanding of the broader psychological landscape of FoMO. The study confirms the three-factor model of the FoMO scale among Indian adolescents, emphasising cultural differences in the experience and measurement approaches towards FoMO. This research reiterates the need for culturally sensitive adaptations of psychometric tools and provides preliminary insights into the psychological correlates of FoMO. Further, there is a need for interventions that address the social-emotional dimensions of digital engagement among youth.