Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Smartphones and their applications play a key role in social connections, emotion expression, information transmission, and human achievements. However, the unfavorable side of such devices can lead users to develop a fear of missing out (FOMO) on what is happening around them, which may provoke adverse health, social, and academic conditions. We sought to investigate the extent of FOMO among undergraduate students in Oman and its relation to their academic performance. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive, correlational study of a sample of 147 undergraduate students at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. The questionnaire consisted of the FOMO scale, the participants' sociodemographic background (such as age, gender, and marital status), and their academic background (grade point average (GPA), academic year, and history of probation). RESULTS: A total of 147 undergraduate students participated in this study; the majority were male (59.2%) and single (95.2%), lived off-campus (55.8%), were in their third or fourth academic year (57.1%), and had a mean GPA of 75.3%. Almost three-quarters reported that they used at least one smartphone, and their main reason for using these devices was for social interaction. Students experienced a moderate level of FOMO; the mean score of their FOMO experiences was 28.9. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged and constant use of smartphones may influence students to rely on them holistically, causing them to think about, follow, and react excessively to the behavior of others.