Fear of missing out as a mediator and social capital as a moderator of the relationship between the narcissism and the social media use among adolescents

Many risk behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and problematic social media use (PSMU), are formed and developed during adolescence. These risk behaviors may become even more acute with lasting global economic impacts of the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research indicates that narcissism can lead to problematic social media use; however, there is a gap in the knowledge about the mediating and moderating variables facilitating this relationship. This study examines the role of fear of missing out (FoMO) as a mediator in this relationship and the role of social capital as a moderator for this mediation effect among Chinese adolescents during the 2020-2022 COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1380 adolescents (825 females) anonymously completed the questionnaires which assessed the four variables of interest. Our results showed that fear of missing out mediated the associations between self-superior and other-inferior narcissism and problematic social media use, and this effect was stronger with other-inferior narcissism. Additionally, social capital strengthened the mediation effect of fear of missing out in the relationships between self-superior and other-inferior narcissism and problematic social media use. The results have critical implications for the prevention of adolescents? PSMU.