Phubbing behaviors among Italian and Turkish university students: The role of fear of missing out, addictive smartphone behaviors, gender, and age

Several studies have identified recent social and psychological phenomena related to technological tools, including phubbing behaviours, addictive smartphone behaviours, and the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO). This research analyzed data from 599 university students in Italy and Türkiye using structural equation modeling to explore the direct and indirect associations between age, gender, and phubbing behaviours (measured using the General Scale of Phubbing), with FoMO (measured using the FoMO Scale) and addictive smartphone behaviours (measured using the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version) as mediators. The results show that FoMO directly affects both addictive smartphone behaviours and phubbing, with addictive smartphone behaviours positively influencing phubbing. FoMO also indirectly impacts phubbing through addictive smartphone behaviours. As age increases, both FoMO and phubbing behaviours decrease. Additionally, FoMO mediates the relationship between age and phubbing behaviours. These findings enrich the existing literature by providing an in-depth analysis of the relationships between phubbing behaviour, gender, age, addictive smartphone behaviours, and FoMO. They also offer a valuable foundation for designing effective prevention and intervention programs aimed to reducing phubbing behaviour among university students.