Social media use and fear of missing out as predictors of life satisfaction among undergraduates in selected universities in Nigeria

  • Joshua O. Ogunsemi orcid

    Department of Psychology, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232103, Nigeria

    Health Centre (Psychological Service), Redeemer’s University, Ede 232103, Nigeria
  • Christabel E. Lapinni

    Department of Psychology, Redeemer’s University, Ede 232103, Nigeria
Article ID: 4157
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/apr4157
Keywords: life satisfaction, social media use, fear of missing out, gender differences, university undergraduates Nigeria

Abstract

The use of social media platforms has increased among university undergraduates, and the fear of missing out may be a likely underlying factor in this increase. There is, however, a paucity of empirical research addressing whether these variables predict life satisfaction among university undergraduates. The study assessed the predictive influence of social media use and fear of missing out on life satisfaction among university undergraduates in Nigeria. An ex post facto design was used. Data were collected from 358 undergraduates (Male = 46.1%, Female = 53.9%) who completed self-reporting assessments: the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and Social Media Use Scale (SMUS). Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyses. The study results showed that both social media use (β = −0.25, p < 0.001) and FoMO (β = −0.29, p < 0.001) predicted lower life satisfaction. Age and gender also predicted life satisfaction, with gender (β = 0.33, p < 0.001) a significant predictor, while age was not. The independent-samples t-test showed that male undergraduates reported significantly higher life satisfaction than female undergraduates (d = 0.69). In contrast, female undergraduates reported higher FoMO (d = 0.49), and both genders showed equal social media use. The research demonstrates that FoMO and social media use patterns are essential psychological factors that impact the rating of life satisfaction through likely digital social pressure experiences across genders. The study emphasises the need for interventions that address FoMO while teaching undergraduates better digital behaviour, as these measures will help them achieve higher life satisfaction.

Published
2026-04-09
How to Cite
Ogunsemi, J. O., & Lapinni, C. E. (2026). Social media use and fear of missing out as predictors of life satisfaction among undergraduates in selected universities in Nigeria. Applied Psychology Research, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.59400/apr4157
Issue
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026)
Section
Article

Copyright (c) 2026 Joshua O. Ogunsemi, Christabel E. Lapinni

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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