Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between mindfulness, fear of missing out and social media addiction. and the potential mediating role of social media addiction in the association of mindfulness with Fear of Missing Out. Four hundred and seventy-six international students in China were recruited to complete the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FOMOS), and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). The results found that mindfulness correlated negatively with social media addiction and fear of missing out. Furthermore, social media addiction was positively correlated with fear of missing out. Structural equation modelling revealed that the mediation model fit the data well, That’s is, social media addiction partly mediated the association of mindfulness with Fear of Missing Out. We concluded that this insight contributes to a better understanding of the interplay between mindfulness, social media use, and the psychological aspects of fear of missing out, providing valuable implications for interventions and strategies to promote healthier online behaviours and mental well-being among the target population.