A cross-sectional study of 1,071 university students in Saudi Arabia finds that Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is associated with problematic social media use and poorer sleep quality, while problematic social media use is independently linked to lower academic productivity.
What they found
Researchers at Taibah University in Madinah surveyed students using validated instruments including an adapted FoMO scale, social media addiction items, academic behavior items, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Key figures:
- FoMO was positively correlated with problematic social media use (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) and poorer sleep quality (r = 0.25, p < 0.01).
- Problematic social media use was negatively associated with academic productivity (r = -0.11, p < 0.01) and positively associated with poorer sleep quality (r = 0.20, p < 0.01).
- In regression analysis, problematic social media use was negatively associated with academic productivity (beta = -0.17, p < 0.001).
- FoMO (beta = 0.19, p < 0.001) and problematic social media use (beta = 0.11, p = 0.002) were both independently associated with poorer sleep quality.
Why it matters
FoMO, the anxious sense that others are having rewarding experiences without you, is a well-documented driver of compulsive social media checking, particularly among young adults. This study provides some of the first evidence from a Middle Eastern university population, where smartphone penetration and social media use are among the highest globally. The findings suggest a three-part cascade: FoMO drives excessive social media engagement, which in turn degrades both sleep quality and academic focus. For university health services, it points to digital literacy and sleep hygiene as interconnected targets.
Limits
The study is cross-sectional, so causal direction cannot be established, poor sleep could also amplify FoMO and social media checking. All measures were self-reported, and the sample was drawn from a single Saudi university, which may limit generalizability.
Bottom line
FoMO is associated with problematic social media use, poorer sleep, and reduced academic productivity among Saudi university students. The findings support interventions that address digital behavior and sleep health together rather than in isolation.
Source
Alzahrani F, Raidan R, Al Harbi W, et al. Fear of missing out (FoMO) in the digital age: implications for academic productivity and sleep quality among Saudi university students. Frontiers in Psychology. 2026;17:1847930. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1847930. PMID: 42293951.