Abstract:

The present study examines the influence of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) and emotional contagion on decision regret and self-esteem among adults. FOMO refers to the pervasive apprehension that others may be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent, while emotional contagion refers to the tendency to automatically mimic and internalize the emotions of others. Both constructs are believed to influence emotional and cognitive processes that may shape satisfaction with personal decisions and overall self-evaluation. A total of 70 adult participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Standardized self-report instruments were administered to measure FOMO, emotional contagion, decision regret, and self-esteem. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 19. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between FOMO and decision regret. However, emotional contagion did not show a statistically significant relationship with decision regret or self-esteem, and FOMO did not significantly predict self-esteem. The findings highlight the role of social comparison processes in shaping decision-related emotional outcomes.