Date

5-2020

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Angel Golson

Keywords

FoMO, Loneliness, SNSs, College, Belonging, Wellbeing

Disciplines

Counseling | Educational Leadership | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Time spent on social networking sites has become an essential part of the Gen Z’s social experience, and the fear of missing out (FoMO), and loneliness have become three well known topics among today’s college students. It is suspected that emerging adults are spending an excessive amount of time on SNSs, which is contributing to the increasing psychological decline and the epidemic of loneliness on college campuses around the world. The research conducted sought to determine if there is a predictive relationship between multiple variables, including time spent on social networking sites, the fear of missing out (FoMO), and loneliness among undergraduate college students. The study included collection of demographic characteristics including (age, gender, ethnicity, and number of SNSs owed), along with the related period(s) and (e) motives of use, specifically (a) academic (b) public places, (c) relaxation/free, and (d) stress. The results indicated there is a predictive relationship between time spent on social networking sites, loneliness, and the fear of missing out (FoMO). Further, it was found that loneliness was predictive of FoMO and related periods of use, specifically during stressful times and in public places was predictive of loneliness and FoMO. Results also revealed that demographic characteristics, specifically number of social networking accounts owned was predictive of FoMO and loneliness, and ethnicity was predictive of FoMO.

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