Fear of Missing Out Scale

Introduction
The fear of missing out (FoMO) scale has been defined as a pervasive apprehension that
others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent. FoMO is characterized
by the desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing (Przybylski, Murayama,
DeHaan, & Gladwell, 2013). The Fear of Missing out Scale (FoMOS), developed Przybylski and
colleagues in 2013 and is a 10-item unidimensional scale set on 5-point Likert type responses,
and measures the degree to which one fears missing out on social events, in particular involving
their friends and often, using social media to stay (hyper) connected.

Reliability
The scale has been shown to demonstrate high internal consistency (ɑ = .82; Przybylski et
al., 2013). Subsequent studies have continued to verify the scales’ reliability, (α = 0.87, 0.90;
Lai, ltavilla, Ronconi, & Aceto, 2016). The authors also report that these items produced a good
model fit, v2 (275) = 1778.1, p < .01, RMSEA = .073, SRMR = .056.

Validity
In terms of face validity, the measure features items including anxiety from being left out of
‘inside jokes’ or social events, which seem to encapsulate the construct well. Additionally, the
measure demonstrates content validity as the authors generated items based on a review of
popular and industry writing on FoMO, drafting 32 items meant to reflect the fears, worries, and
anxieties people may have in relation to being in (or out of) touch with the events, experiences,
and conversations happening across their extended social circles. Przybylski and colleagues
(2013) found the measure to demonstrate convergent validity through a positive association with
social media engagement (r = .40; measure also developed by Przybylski and colleagues).
Discriminant validity was demonstrated through a negative association with La Guardia, Ryan,
Couchman, and Deci’s (2000) psychological need satisfaction scale (r = -.29), insofar as those
who had a higher fear of missing out felt their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness
were diminished (authors averaged responses from all three needs; Przybylski et al., 2013). Work
by Beyens, Frison, and Eggermont (2016) provides further evidence for convergent validity,
finding positive relationships between FoMO and need for popularity (i.e., Santor et al.’s (2000)
popularity scale; r =. 48) and need to belong (i.e., Leary, Kelly, Cottrell, and Schreindorfer’s
(2013) Need to Belong Scale; r =. 53).

Location of Measure
Przybylski, A. K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C. R., & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational,
emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human
Behavior, 29, 1841-1848. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014

Measure
Instructions:
Below is a collection of statements about your everyday experience. Using the scale provided
please indicate how true each statement is of your general experiences. Please answer according
to what really reflects your experiences rather than what you think your experiences should be.
Please treat each item separately from every other item. 1 = ‘‘Not at all true of me’’, 2 =
‘‘Slightly true of me’’, 3 = ‘‘Moderately true of me’’, 4 = ‘‘Very true of me’’, and 5 =
‘‘Extremely true of me’’.

1. I fear others have more rewarding experiences than me.

2. I fear my friends have more rewarding experiences than me.
3. I get worried when I find out my friends are having fun without me.
4. I get anxious when I don’t know what my friends are up to.
5. It is important that I understand my friends ‘‘in jokes’’.
6. Sometimes, I wonder if I spend too much time keeping up with what is going on.
7. It bothers me when I miss an opportunity to meet up with friends.
8. When I have a good time it is important for me to share the details online (e.g. updating
status).
9. When I miss out on a planned get-together it bothers me.
10. When I go on vacation, I continue to keep tabs on what my friends are doing.

Comments
The fear of missing out has been cited as a motivation for using Facebook (Reinecke,
Vorderer, & Knop, 2014), as well as a reason for the emergence of separation anxieties between
smartphone users and their smartphones (Clayton, Leshner, & Almond, 2015). Notably, FoMO
scale items seem to address a fear of missing out in general, so this measure in particular may be
useful across many technologically-mediated communication contexts.

References

Beyens, I., Frison, E., & Eggermont, S. (2016). “I don’t want to miss a thing”: Adolescents’ fear
of missing out and its relationship to adolescents’ social needs, Facebook use, and
Facebook related stress. Computers in Human Behavior, 64, 1–8.
doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.083

Clayton, R. B., Leshner, G., & Almond, A. (2015). The extended iSelf: the impact of iPhone
separation on cognition, emotion, and physiology. Journal of Computer‐Mediated
Communication, 20, 119-135. doi:10.1111/jcc4.12109

Lai, C., Altavilla, D., Ronconi, A., & Aceto, P. (2016). Fear of missing out (FOMO) is
associated with activation of the right middle temporal gyrus during inclusion social cue.
Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 516-521. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.072

La Guardia, J. G., Ryan, R. M., Couchman, C. E., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Within-person variation
in security of attachment: A self-determination theory perspective on attachment, need
fulfillment, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 367–384.
doi:10.1037//0022-3514.79.3367

Leary, M. R., Kelly, K. M., Cottrell, C. a, & Schreindorfer, L. S. (2013). Construct validity of the
need to belong scale: mapping the nomological network. Journal of Personality
Assessment, 95, 610-624. doi:10.1080/00223891.2013.819511
Reinecke, L., Vorderer, P., & Knop, K. (2014). Entertainment 2.0? The role of intrinsic and
extrinsic need satisfaction for the enjoyment of Facebook use. Journal of
Communication, 64, 417-438. doi:10.1111/jcom.12099

Santor, D. A., Messervey, D., & Kusumakar, V. (2000). Measuring peer pressure, popularity,
and conformity in adolescent boys and girls: Predicting school performance, sexual
attitudes, and substance abuse. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 29, 163-182.
doi:1023/A:1005152515264

Profiled by Nicholas Bowman and Cathlin Clark-Gordon