The Role of Self-Control in Moderating the Relationship Between the Need to Belong and Symptoms of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) Among College Students: A Literature Review Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/z93ybp25Abstract
This study examines the theoretical role of self-control as a potential moderator in the relationship between need to belong and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) among university students through a systematic literature review. FoMO refers to the concern that others may be experiencing rewarding social experiences without oneself and is closely related to persistent monitoring of digital social activities. The literature reviewed suggests that need to belong is associated with sensitivity to social inclusion and exclusion, while self-control is related to the capacity to regulate attention, cognition, emotion, and behavior. Based on thematic synthesis, three pathways are proposed through which self-control may weaken the relationship between need to belong and FoMO: attentional regulation, cognitive reappraisal, and digital behavioral management. A four-profile heuristic typology is also proposed by combining need to belong and self-control. Importantly, the moderating relationship and the four-profile typology are theoretical propositions rather than statistical findings of this study because no interaction analysis was conducted. The proposed framework therefore provides a basis for future empirical research, particularly quantitative studies testing the interaction between need to belong and self-control in predicting FoMO
Keywords:
Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), Need to Belong, Self-Control, Literature ReviewDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nurul Azimah, Andini Sartika Permatasari Hendra, Dewi Sandra, Sri Rahmadani, Latang (Author)
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