This study explores relationship between family characteristics and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) using online survey data from Flemish and Brussels adolescents aged 13 to 18 years old. I learnt from the study that family structure and parenting style play important roles in the development of FoMO and high-quality relationship with parents is related to lower FoMO. Though this founding is contrary to much of the literature, I think it cannot make more sense because high quality family relationships mean more human interactions in family lives. FoMO is a type of internet addiction that predominantly affects children and adolescents (Tomczyk & Selmanagic-Lizde, 2018). Interpersonal relationships are bilateral. It is essential that both parents and the children devote time and effort to foster a close and high quality relationship. In line with this, adolescents with closer relationships with parents are less likely to be internet addicted because they would have less capacity for virtual interactions and developing internet addictions. Strong attachment to parents is negatively correlated with internet addiction in adolescents (Chang et al., 2015).
Gunuc and Dogan (2013) found that low parental involvement increases adolescents’ likelihood of internet addiction and subsequently the development of FoMO. Adolescents having less lower quality parental relationships, for example, those living in single parent households are more inclined to digital technologies and adopt risky online behavior more quickly than adolescents living in two-parent households (Notten, 2013). Poor family functioning and conflict between parents are important predictors for the development of internet addiction in adolescents (Ko et al., 2015), which is closely associated with FoMO. High quality family relationship is likely to deter digital addition and subsequently FoMO. Family structure exert contextual influences in internet addiction and the development of FoMO through the time spent by the parents with the adolescent, the frequency of contact with parents, or the influence of new family members etc.
This study remind parents the importance of fostering strong relationship with their children for their healthy development both physically and psychologically. It is essential that for the parents to devote time and effort for sufficient interactions with their children for a healthy family environment. As long as sufficient parental guidance is in way of adolescents and children’s development, they could avert from the risk of internet addiction and the development of FoMO.
References
Gunuc, S. & Dogan, A. (2013). The relationships between Turkish adolescents’ Internet addiction, their perceived social support and family activities. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2197–2207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.04.011
Tomczyk, L. & Selmanagic-Lizde, E. (2018). Fear of missing out (FOMO) among youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina—Scale and selected mechanisms. Children and Youth Services Review, 88, 541–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.03.048
Chang, F.-C., Chiu, C.-H., Miao, N.-F., Chen, P.-H., Lee, C.-M., Chiang, J.-T., & Pan, Y.-C. (2015). The relationship between parental mediation and Internet addiction among adolescents, and the association with cyberbullying and depression. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 57, 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.11.013
Notten, N. (2013). Risicogedrag en het wereldwijde web: De invloed van gezin en samenleving op het online risicogedrag van adolescenten vanuit een Europees perspectief [Risk behavior and the world wide web: The impact of family and society on the online risk behavior of adolescents from a European perspective]. Mens en Maatschappij, 88(4), 350–374. https://doi.org/10.5117/MEM2013.4.NOTT
Ko, C.-H., Wang, P.-W., Liu, T.-L., Yen, C.-F., Chen, C.-S. & Yen, J.-Y. (2015). Bidirectional associations between family factors and Internet addiction among adolescents in a prospective investigation. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 69(4), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12204