ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO), STRESS, SLEEP QUALITY, SCREEN TIME, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is characterized by anxiety about being excluded from rewarding experiences and is frequently associated with excessive social media use, psychological distress, and academic impairment. This study evaluated the association between FoMO, screen time, perceived stress, sleep quality, and academic performance among medical students. This was an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study involving 86 medical students. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the FoMO Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The mean age was 22.6 years, and digital exposure was high, with 57.0% of participants using their smartphones for 4 to 6 hours per day. The mean FoMO score was 3.04, while the mean perceived stress score was 19.3, indicating moderate stress levels. A significant positive correlation was found between FoMO and perceived stress (p = 0.004), as well as between FoMO and greater daily social media use (p = 0.016). A significant negative correlation was also observed between FoMO and self-reported academic performance (p = 0.025). These findings suggest that FoMO is associated with digital hyperconnectivity, greater psychological distress, and poorer perceived academic performance among medical students.