Afraid of Social Exclusion: Fear of Missing Out Predicts Cyberball-Induced Ostracism

Memorial Union Ballroom 214C

The goal of the current study was to analyze factors which may predispose individuals to feeling ostracized and to examine if these factors also predict one’s sense of control, self-esteem, meaningful existence, and belongingness. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and attachment anxiety were both hypothesized to predict scores of ostracism and each of the aforementioned basic needs. An effective sample of 193 young adults completed baseline measures of FoMO and attachment anxiety, the Cyberball ostracism paradigm, and post-measures of ostracism and basic fundamental needs. We found that FoMO, but not attachment anxiety, predicted how ostracized one felt. Likewise, FoMO was inversely related to control, belongingness and meaningful existence. The current research adds to the literature by providing initial work which may suggest FoMO is less about the experiences one misses out on and more about the fear of being excluded by others. Limitations and suggestions for future research are outlined.