Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and Sleep Disturbance as Sequential Mediators in the Relationship Between Excessive Screen Time and Life Satisfaction in Turkish Young Adults

Abstract

Background With the increasing prevalence of digital device use among young adults, concerns have emerged about its impact on psychological well-being. This study investigates the relationship between excessive screen time and life satisfaction, with a focus on the sequential mediating roles of fear of missing out (FoMO) and sleep disturbance. Methods Data were collected from 407 young adults (mean age = 24.13 years; 77.6% female, 22.4% male) in T & uuml;rkiye using validated self-report measures. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test direct, indirect, and sequential effects among the study variables. Results Excessive screen time significantly predicted higher levels of FoMO and lower levels of life satisfaction. FoMO positively predicted sleep disturbance, and sleep disturbance negatively predicted life satisfaction. Mediation analyses revealed that FoMO mediated the relationship between excessive screen time and sleep disturbance, while sleep disturbance mediated the relationship between FoMO and life satisfaction. Additionally, a significant sequential mediation effect was found. Conclusion The findings highlight FoMO and sleep disturbance as key psychological and behavioral mechanisms linking excessive screen time to reduced well-being. Interventions targeting digital media use among young adults should focus on reducing FoMO and improving sleep hygiene to enhance life satisfaction.