Gong Chen, Li Yezi
School of Journalism, Fudan University, 200437 Shanghai, China.
College of Literature and Media, Wenzhou University of Technology, 325027 Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Alpha Psychiatry. 2025 Aug 25;26(4):46030. doi: 10.31083/AP46030. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Problematic internet use (PIU) is a general behavioral addiction and encompasses various syndromes. Previous research found that traumatic events may potentially influence or alter the propensity for PIU. This study aimed to explore the mediating role of fear of missing out (FOMO) and rumination in the influence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on PIU among Wenchuan earthquake survivors.
In the fall of 2023, 665 valid participants' responses were selected in this cross-sectional study. The PTSD Checklist (PCL-C), FOMO Scale, Rumination Scale (RRS), and Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2) were used to measure participants' internet usage and mental state. Description analysis and structural equation model analysis were examined by using SmartPLS.
PTSD positively influenced FOMO (β = 0.315, < 0.001), rumination (β = 0.279, = 0.001), and PIU (β = 0.213, < 0.001). FOMO (β = 0.08, 95% CI (confidence interval) [0.037, 0.144], = 0.005) and rumination (β = 0.093, 95% CI [0.032, 0.139], = 0.002) played a mediating role in the influence of PTSD on PIU. Regarding the relationship between PTSD and PIU, direct and indirect effects comprised 45.6% and 54.4%. PTSD had a positively significant effect on PIU by mediating FOMO and rumination to form a chain mediation model (β = 0.081, 95% CI [0.010, 0.039], = 0.002).
This study investigated online usage and media psychology among survivors of the Wenchuan earthquake in China. FOMO and rumination were found to be important factors influencing the relationship between PTSD and PIU. To prevent or relieve people's PIU, we propose that medical practitioners and local government intervene on FOMO through effective measures to decrease rumination. The individual differences and specific internet platform usage that influence these psychological variables should also be further investigated in future studies.
问题性互联网使用（PIU）是一种普遍的行为成瘾，包含多种综合征。先前的研究发现，创伤性事件可能会潜在地影响或改变PIU的倾向。本研究旨在探讨错失恐惧（FOMO）和反刍思维在创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）对汶川地震幸存者PIU影响中的中介作用。
在2023年秋季，本横断面研究选取了665名有效参与者的回复。使用创伤后应激障碍检查表（PCL-C）、错失恐惧量表、反刍思维量表（RRS）和广义问题性互联网使用量表2（GPIUS2）来测量参与者的互联网使用情况和心理状态。使用SmartPLS进行描述性分析和结构方程模型分析。
PTSD对FOMO（β = 0.315，< 0.001）、反刍思维（β = 0.279，= 0.001）和PIU（β = 0.213，< 0.001）有正向影响。FOMO（β = 0.08，95%置信区间[0.037, 0.144]，= 0.005）和反刍思维（β = 0.093，95%置信区间[0.032, 0.139]，= 0.002）在PTSD对PIU的影响中起中介作用。关于PTSD与PIU的关系，直接效应和间接效应分别占45.6%和54.4%。PTSD通过中介FOMO和反刍思维对PIU产生显著正向影响，形成链式中介模型（β = 0.081，95%置信区间[0.010, 0.039]，= 0.002）。
本研究调查了中国汶川地震幸存者的网络使用情况和媒体心理学。发现FOMO和反刍思维是影响PTSD与PIU关系的重要因素。为预防或缓解人们的PIU，我们建议医疗从业者和地方政府通过有效措施干预FOMO以减少反刍思维。未来研究还应进一步调查影响这些心理变量的个体差异和特定互联网平台使用情况。
