Modeling Psychological Distress and Instagram Addiction with the Mediating Role of Boredom and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) in College Students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

2 PhD Student, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

3 PhD Student, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

4 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2025.68840.6787

Abstract

With the expansion of the use of social networks in students' daily lives, concerns about the possible consequences of excessive use of these networks have increased. The purpose of this study was Modeling Psychological Distress and Instagram Addiction with the Mediating Role of Boredom and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) in College Students.The present study method was descriptive-correlational structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all students of Mazandaran University, 11,383 in the academic year 2024-2025, from which a sample of 250 was selected using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Instagram Addiction Scale by Kircaburun and Griffiths (2018), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995), the Multidimensional Boredom Scale by Fahlman et al. (2013), and the Fear of Missing Out Scale by Przybylski et al. (2013). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicated a good fit of the data to the model (x2/df=1.98, CFI=0.94, GFI=0.92, AGFI=0.91, TLI=0.95, IFI=0.95, NFI=0.96 and RMSEA=0.06). The results showed that psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress), boredom and fear of Missing Out (FoMO) had a direct and significant effect on Instagram addiction (p<0.05). Also, psychological distress had a direct and significant effect on boredom and fear of missing out (FoMO) (p<0.05). Also, FoMO and boredom played a mediating role in the relationship between psychological distress and Instagram addiction (p<0.05). Thus, designing programs to reduce boredom and FoMO along with interventions to reduce psychological distress can significantly reduce students' vulnerability to social media addiction.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 20, Issue 80
January 2026
Pages 190-202

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 30 November 2025

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