Adaptation of Fear of Missing Out Questionnaire for Russian Language

Abstract

Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a phenomenon expressed in a pervasive apprehension that one is missing out on useful experiences and information that others are obtaining. Several theoretical approaches explain this phenomenon. It is most commonly considered within the context of self-determination theory, but there are alternative explanations: within the self-concept framework, through decision-making theory as a specific form of regret over missed options, as a result of social comparison, or through the lens of addictive behavior. As a psychological construct, FOMO has high predictive power in relation to problematic behavior and is associated with other psychological constructs. For example, FOMO correlates more strongly with the use of social networks than loneliness, depression, or stress, and contributes more to the use of social networks and dependency on them than extraversion, neuroticism, or attachment style.

Various methods measure the fear of missing out. The Przybylski’s questionnaire, adapted into several languages, is often used. In the presented study, an adaptation of the questionnaire into Russian was carried out. Three independent translations were compiled into an online form, presented to five other experts. Based on the results of the form completion and discussion, a translation version satisfying all experts was composed. Participants completed the FOMO questionnaire (n=443), as well as an internet addiction test, the Spielberger-Hanin anxiety scale, the Diener life satisfaction scale, and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale to assess the convergent validity of the adapted translation. A subset of participants (n=112) retook the FOMO questionnaire a month later, allowing for the assessment of the retest reliability of the adaptation. The final result presents a 6-item questionnaire with a two-factor structure ("fear of missing out on pleasure" and "fear of missing out on social opportunities"), having satisfactory psychometric properties. The two-factor structure of the Chinese adaptation and the one-factor structure of the original study also have satisfactory psychometric properties. Suggestions for improving excluded statements and directions for further research to enhance the quality of the Russian-adapted fear of missing out questionnaire are proposed.