Social Media Utilization, Fear of Missing Out, Upward Social Comparison, and Self-Compassion as Predictors of Psychological Distress and Life Satisfaction Among Individuals with Mental Health Concerns

Individuals with mental health concerns may interact with social media to obtain support and share information; however, they might be more vulnerable to unhelpful engagement with these platforms. Fear of missing out (FOMO) and upward social comparison on social media have been related to poorer subjective well-being and greater distress and may contribute to a negative impact of social media use. The current study examined whether self-compassion serves as a protective factor by moderating the relationships between FOMO and upward social comparison on social media and life satisfaction and psychological distress. Participants were 295 adults who self-identified as diagnosed with a mental health condition that was poorly controlled. They completed an online survey assessing distress, life satisfaction, and interactions with social media. Greater FOMO (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and lower self-compassion (β =  − 0.48, p < 0.001) were predictive of higher distress and greater self-compassion (β =  − 0.32, p < 0.001) of higher life satisfaction, after controlling for age, gender, and social media utilization. Upward social comparison on social media did not predict distress or life satisfaction in regression analyses. Self-compassion did not moderate the impact of FOMO and upward social comparison on social media on either distress or life satisfaction. Findings suggest that FOMO and self-compassion are important to consider among individuals with mental health concerns.