Abstract:
In recent years many parents and researchers have expressed concerns regarding the
potential negative impact of social media use on adolescents. Some studies have indicated
that social media use may be tied to negative mental health outcomes. Other studies have
not found evidence for harm, or have indicated that social media use may be beneficial for
some individuals. The current correlational study examined 417 adolescents from different
Pakistani school and college students for their time spent using social media, and the
importance of social media in their lives. The research investigated the relationship among
cyberbullying, fear of missing out (FOMO), and self-perception by checking whether
cyberbullying is a predictor of self-perception while fear of missing out acted as a mediator.
Key findings include significant correlations between these factors, indicating that higher
levels of cyberbullying and fear of missing out are associated with negative self-perception
in adolescents. Results indicated that cyberbullying was not predictive of self-perception
while fear of missing out acted as a mediator. However, cyberbullying was predictive of
fear of missing out, suggesting this may be particularly relevant in leading to increased
levels of mental health issues in cyberbullying victims. The study contributes to
understanding the psychological impacts of digital technology use among young
individuals and suggests the need for strategies to mitigate these negative effects. Finally,
the theoretical implications of our findings on the relationship between these variables and
the mental health issues of adolescent victims of cyberbullying are discussed.
