Aggression and fear of missing out as mediators between problematic smartphone use and psychological distress among Moroccan high school students

Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) is a growing concern among adolescents. This cross-sectional study examines the relationship between PSU and psychological distress among Moroccan high school students exploring the mediating effects of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and aggression. Participants (N = 2,202) aged 14-23 (M = 16.81, SD = 1.226) were predominantly female (59%) and urban-based (72.5%). Assessments were performed using validated Arabic scales, including the SAS-SV (Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version), FoMO, BPAQ-SF (Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-Short Form scale), and DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale). Beyond the direct impact of psychological distress on PSU, the study revealed an indirect effect through four distinct pathways. The FoMO-Fear dimension had a stronger mediating effect on stress (0.1526, 95% CI: 0.1208 to 0.1865), depression (0.1418, 95% CI: 0.1208 to 0.1865), and anxiety (0.1236, 95% CI: 0.0962 to 0.1548) than the FoMO-Control dimension. The indirect effects through physical aggression were 0.2114 (95% CI: 0.1731 to 0.2540) for stress, 0.1693 (95% CI: 0.1363 to 0.2061) for depression, and 0.1569 (95% CI: 0.1246 to 0.1919) for anxiety, which are all greater than the corresponding effects through anger. These findings underscore targeted mental health support and digital wellness programs to safeguard high school students' well-being.