Interpersonal adaptation on problematic mobile internet use among college students: the mediating role of fear of missing out and self-differentiation.

Previous studies have established associations between interpersonal adaptation and Fear of missing out (FoMO), self-differentiation, and problematic mobile Internet use (PMIU). However, the mediating roles of FoMO and self-differentiation in linking interpersonal adaptation to PMIU among Chinese un...

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Published in:Psychology, Health & Medicine Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 1613 - 1626
Main Authors: Zhengyu, Wu, Haiyan, Zhao, Shuhui, Huo, Wei, Li, Xueqi, Zhang, Jianqin, Cao
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
      vid: 31
      iid: 6
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/13548506.2025.2565515
        194804712
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        atl: Interpersonal adaptation on problematic mobile internet use among college students: the mediating role of fear of missing out and self-differentiation.
      aug:
        au:
          Zhengyu, Wu
          Haiyan, Zhao
          Shuhui, Huo
          Wei, Li
          Xueqi, Zhang
          Jianqin, Cao
        affil: Key Laboratory of Basic Research and Health Management on Chronic Diseases in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin Medical University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Interpersonal Relations
          Adaptation, Psychological
          Students, College Psychosocial Factors
          Internet Addiction Psychosocial Factors
          Cellular Phone
          Fear
          Self Concept
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Young Adult
          Colleges and Universities China
          China
          Self Report
          Scales
          Needs Assessment
          Family Relations
          Cognition
          Behavior, Addictive
          Confidence Intervals
          Funding Source
          Questionnaires
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Convenience Sample
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Pearson's Correlation Coefficient
          Chi Square Test
          Emotional Regulation Evaluation
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Previous studies have established associations between interpersonal adaptation and Fear of missing out (FoMO), self-differentiation, and problematic mobile Internet use (PMIU). However, the mediating roles of FoMO and self-differentiation in linking interpersonal adaptation to PMIU among Chinese university students remain unclear. In this study, a sample of 540 university students completed self-report measures using the Interpersonal Adaptation Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Self-differentiation Scale, and the Problematic Mobile Internet Use Scale. The results supported a sequential mediation model. Specifically, poorer interpersonal adaptation was associated with higher levels of FoMO, which in turn was linked to lower self-differentiation, ultimately leading to more severe problematic mobile Internet use. In other words, difficulties in interpersonal adaptation may predict a heightened sense of FoMO, which could impede self-differentiation and consequently contribute to the development of PMIU.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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