Abstract
Previous cross-sectional studies have explored associations between basic psychological need satisfaction, fear of missing out (FoMO), and depression. However, the longitudinal nature of these relationships and their underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to utilize longitudinal tracking methods to investigate the relationships among basic psychological need satisfaction, fear of missing out, and depression in university students. Longitudinal data collection was conducted among 750 university students (mean age = 18.12 ± 0.73) in China over two years at three time points. Participants were investigated using paper-pencil survey versions of the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, the Fear of Missing Out scale, and The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. The results revealed that, over the two-year study period, basic psychological need satisfaction (β = -6.239, p < 0.001) among university students demonstrated a declining trend, while FoMO (β = 1.360, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 3.602, p < 0.001) demonstrated an upward trend. The initial levels and development rates of basic psychological need satisfaction directly predicted the initial levels (β = -0.236, p = 0.031) and development rates of depression (β = -0.144, p < 0.001; β = -0.181, p = 0.005). The initial level of FoMO mediated the relationship between basic psychological need satisfaction and depression (β = -0.132, p = 0.007; β = -0.104, p = 0.036), and this mediating effect did not exhibit significant gender differences. These findings help to reveal the temporal relationships among the three variables from a dynamic perspective, providing important practical guidance for mental health education in universities.