Social comparison orientation and fear of missing out as mediators between self-concept clarity and problematic smartphone use

The present study sought to provide empirical evidence for the sequential mediating role of social comparison orientation and fear missing out (FoMO) in relationship between self-concept clarity (SCC) problematic smartphone use (PSU) within framework Interaction Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model. A sample 474 Italian participants (Mage = 29.48; 52.7% females) completed a battery self-report instruments including Self-Concept Clarity Scale, Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation, Fear Missing Out Smartphone Addiction Scale. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, structural equation modelling analyses were conducted. Results confirmed hypothesized relationships indicated that SCC was negatively associated with PSU this association partially sequentially mediated by FoMO. Both mediators could therefore be considered as proximal factors PSU. Implications further research suggestions are provided.