Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the SNS Fear of Missing Out (SNS FoMO) Scale for College Students. In the preliminary study, the concept of SNS FoMO was established through a literature review, and 50 initial items were generated via literature analysis, focus group interviews (FGI), and an analysis of internet news articles. Following two rounds of expert content validity verification, 37 preliminary items across 5 factors were constructed. A preliminary survey of 100 college students then identified 31 items across 4 factors through item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and reliability analysis. In the main study, a survey was administered to 350 college students. This survey included the 31 items selected from the preliminary study, along with scales for validity verification. Data were analyzed using item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (N=150), confirmatory factor analysis (N=200), and reliability and validity analyses. As a result, a final 23-item scale with 4 factors—‘Functional Impairment due to Obsession with Updates,’ ‘Relative Deprivation,’ ‘Repetitive Checking Behavior,’ and ‘Fear of Exclusion’—was confirmed, demonstrating good reliability. Additionally, the criterion and convergent validity of the scale were verified through significant correlations with related scales (the Modified Fear of Missing Out Scale and the SNS Addiction Proneness Scale for College Students). Finally, the study concludes with a discussion of the findings, significance, limitations, and suggestions for future research.