The relationship among self-esteem, fear of missing out, and problematic social media use in Chinese college students: a cross-lagged analysis

The purpose of this study is to investigate the developmental changes and mutual predictive relationships among self-esteem, fear of missing out and problematic social media use in Chinese college students. Using the Self-esteem Scale, Fear of Missing Out Scale, and Problematic Social Media Use Scale, 513 Chinese college freshmen were tracked and measured three times within one year. The results of the data analyses show a downward trend in self-esteem levels and an upward trend in fear of missing out and problematic social media use among Chinese college students. In addition, there is a mutually negative predictive relationship between self-esteem and problematic social media use, while there is a mutually positive predictive relationship between fear of missing out and problematic social media use. These findings offer insights for researchers and educators to intervene in college students’ problematic social media use from a developmental perspective.