Morelli Mara, Ragona Alessandra, Chirumbolo Antonio, Nappa Maria Rosaria, Babore Alessandra, Trumello Carmen, Sciabica Gaetano Maria, Cattelino Elena
Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2025 Apr 1;15(4):454. doi: 10.3390/bs15040454.
Fear of missing out (FoMO) creates a strong urge to stay continuously connected and informed about peers' activities, identified as a risk factor for problematic social media use and risky behaviors. Sexting is generally defined as the exchange of sexually suggestive or explicit photos, videos, or text messages through cell phones or other technologies. Despite its social relevance, the link between FoMO and sexting remains underexplored. This study examines their relationship in young adults-an understudied group compared to adolescents-while controlling for age, sex, and sexual orientation. The study surveyed 911 Italian young adults (18-30 years, M = 22.3, SD = 2.57, 74% women, 70.4% heterosexual) through an online questionnaire. The results indicate that FoMO predicts only risky sexting behaviors (sexting under substance use and sexting for emotion regulation) while not influencing experimental sexting (sending one's own sexts). Additionally, the link between FoMO and sexting for emotion regulation is stronger among LGB individuals. Therefore, FoMO has proven to be strongly related to the two kinds of risky sexting but not to experimental sexting. Understanding this relationship can inform prevention and intervention programs on relationships, online communication, and sexting in young adults.
错失恐惧症（FoMO）产生了一种强烈的冲动，即持续保持与同龄人活动的联系并了解相关信息，这被认为是社交媒体使用问题和危险行为的一个风险因素。发送性暗示信息通常被定义为通过手机或其他技术交换具有性暗示或露骨的照片、视频或短信。尽管其具有社会相关性，但错失恐惧症与发送性暗示信息之间的联系仍未得到充分研究。本研究在控制年龄、性别和性取向的同时，考察了它们在年轻人（与青少年相比是一个研究较少的群体）中的关系。该研究通过在线问卷对911名意大利年轻人（18至30岁，M = 22.3，SD = 2.57，74%为女性，70.4%为异性恋）进行了调查。结果表明，错失恐惧症仅能预测危险的发送性暗示信息行为（在使用物质时发送性暗示信息以及为调节情绪而发送性暗示信息），而不会影响试探性发送性暗示信息行为（发送自己的性暗示信息）。此外，在女同性恋、男同性恋和双性恋个体中，错失恐惧症与为调节情绪而发送性暗示信息之间的联系更强。因此，事实证明，错失恐惧症与两种危险的发送性暗示信息行为密切相关，但与试探性发送性暗示信息行为无关。了解这种关系可以为针对年轻人的人际关系、在线交流和发送性暗示信息方面的预防和干预项目提供参考。
