Still logged in? Self-forgiveness is linked to lower fear of missing out (FoMO) only at lower levels

Kurzfassung/Abstract

Objective: Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a growing phenomenon that can occur across various life domains, including but not limited to online environments. It has been associated with reduced well-being, which makes it important to identify potential protective factors. The present study examined whether dispositional forgiveness, specifically forgiveness of others, perceived forgiveness by God, and self-forgiveness, is modestly associated with FoMO in a sample of Polish adults active on social networking platforms, where the experience is most common.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 290 participants aged 18–65 who completed the Toussaint Forgiveness Scale and the Fear of Missing Out Scale.
Results: Multiple regression analyses confirmed that only self-forgiveness was significantly associated with FoMO when sociodemographic variables were controlled, with a small effect size. Quantile regression showed significant associations at the 25th and 50th percentiles, but not at the 75th percentile.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that self-forgiveness may represent a modest psychological resource associated with lower FoMO, particularly in preventive and educational contexts, while underscoring the need for broader resources to address more severe experiences of FoMO.