Fear of Missing Out and Happiness: The Indirect Influence of Digital Leisure Flow Experience and Social Media Addiction

The rapid proliferation of social media among university students has heightened the need to understand both the benefits and potential detriments of digital engagement. While social media facilitates information access and leisure activities, excessive use may contribute to social media addiction (SMA), reduced well-being, and fear of missing out (FoMO). This study aimed to investigate the serial mediating roles of digital leisure flow experience and SMA in the relationship between FoMO and happiness, thereby providing integrated theoretical and practical insights into students’ digital experiences. By combining concepts from leisure studies and social media research, the study addresses a critical gap in understanding the mechanisms linking FoMO, digital leisure, addiction, and happiness. The sample comprised 416 university students from both state and private institutions, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings indicate that students’ FoMO influenced happiness indirectly through enhanced digital leisure flow and increased SMA, revealing the dual nature of digital engagement. The study underscores the crucial role of digital leisure flow in promoting happiness while also cautioning against the addictive potential of social media. Theoretically, it advances the literature by identifying complex interrelations between psychological, behavioral, and emotional aspects of online engagement. Practically, the results inform interventions, such as digital literacy and mindful social media use programs, designed to optimize well-being among university students. By integrating leisure and addiction perspectives, this research offers a nuanced understanding of how digital behaviors shape happiness, providing a robust framework for future studies and applied initiatives targeting student well-being.