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