Linking Trait Emotional Intelligence and Dark Triad to Social Media Addiction and Engagement: the mediating role of Fear of Missing out

INTRODUCTION Recent studies have investigated which variables may influence problematic screen-based activities, like Social Media Addiction (SMA) and Social Engagement (SE). Some findings suggested that Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) may be related to problematic social Media use, SE and SMA, whilst some studies emphasized the role of some personality traits, such as trait Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Dark Triad traits (DT; namely, Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy) in SMA, SE and Hours spent on Social Media (H) Past research found relationships between some BIG5 personality traits and FOMO. However, a paucity of studies addressed the associations between EI, DT, and FOMO. The present study sought to investigate this relationship and to assess the mediating role of FOMO in the relationship between EI, DT, SMA, and SE. METHOD 788 subjects aged between 18 and 35 years (M=24.22; SD=3.91) filled a protocol comprising Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-SF, Dark Triad Dirty Dozen, Fear of Missing Out Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Social Media Engagement Questionnaire. RESULTS Path analysis was conducted to test a model with EI and DT as predictor variables, FOMO as mediators, SMA, SE and H as outcomes. Age and gender variables were included as background variables. The model showed good fit indices, χ2(28) = 1022.96; p<.01, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .09 (90% CI = .03 – .15). EI predicted FOMO (β = -.24), and SMA (β = -.09). DT predicted FOMO (β = .31), SE (β = .13), SMA (β = .22). FOMO predicted SE (β = .24), SMA (β = .43), H (β = .20). There was a statistically significant indirect association between EI and SMA (β = -.10), SE (β = -.06), H (β = -.05) by FOMO. Moreover there was a statistically significant indirect association between DD and SMA (β = .07), SE (β = .04), by FOMO. DISCUSSION High EI individuals tend to have better emotion management and regulation. These properties, along with their ability to maintain functional social relationships, may allow a reduction in FOMO levels. These individuals also tend to use more adaptive strategies to meet their relationship needs, without necessarily being afraid of being cut off from others’ experiences. Conversely, people high in DT tend to have more difficulty in maintaining social relationships, and this may increase their FOMO. Specifically, individuals with narcissistic traits may have higher FOMO because of their need to be the center of attention, whilst increased FOMO levels in individuals with macchiavellian and psychopathic traits may be due to their tendency to control others. Consistent with previous research, higher FOMO was related to a higher amount of hours spent on Social Media and SE, because Social Media may be used to engage social interactions and monitor other’s activities. All of these may result in increased SMA risk. CONCLUSION The study highlighted the mediating role of FOMO in the relationship between EI, DT, SMA, SE, and H. A deeper understanding of FOMO may be useful for the creation of both intervention and prevention programmes in the context of SMA.