The Relationship of Rejection and Negative Body Image with Adolescents’ Mobile Phone Addiction: The Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out and Coping Strategies
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Дата
2026-05-14
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MSUPE
Аннотация
Context and relevance. In the era of pervasive digital connectivity, adolescents are increasingly vulnerable to mobile phone addiction, a complex psychological phenomenon intertwined with social and emotional challenges. The emergence of digital technologies has fundamentally transformed how young individuals perceive themselves, interact with peers, and navigate social experiences, making it crucial to understand the underlying psychological mechanisms that contribute to problematic mobile phone use. Objective. The present study investigated the relationship of rejection and negative body image with adolescents’ mobile phone addiction, considering the mediating role of fear of missing out and negative body image. Hypothesis. Rejection and negative body image are correlated with adolescents’ mobile phone addiction, considering the mediating role of fear of missing out and negative body image. Methods and materials. A correlational and path analysis method was used for the present study. The study population consisted of adolescent students in Tehran during the academic year of 2024-2025, from whom 387 students (214 boys and 173 girls) were selected by cluster random sampling. The data were collected by the Peer Rejection Questionnaire, Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Body Image Concern Inventory, and the Cellphone Addiction Scale. Results. The research findings indicated that fear of missing out and coping strategies (emotion-focused and problem-focused) mediated the relationship of rejection and body image with mobile phone addiction in adolescents (p < .001). Conclusions. The findings might assist educators, experts, and parents involved with adolescent mobile phone addiction in education, prevention, and therapeutic interventions, paving the way for creating an enriching environment that satisfies the specific needs of adolescents.
Описание
In the contemporary era of pervasive digital connectivity, adolescents are increasingly immersed in technological environments that profoundly influence their psychological, emotional, and social development. While mobile technologies facilitate communication, learning, and self-expression, they also introduce a spectrum of behavioral and psychological risks, among which mobile phone addiction has emerged as a salient concern. This behavioral pattern, characterized by excessive and compulsive smartphone use, is not merely a matter of habit but reflects deeper psychosocial vulnerabilities related to self-concept, social connectedness, and emotional regulation.
The transformation of social interaction through digital technologies has redefined how adolescents construct their identities and engage in peer relationships. The constant availability of online social platforms has created new social norms in which validation, belonging, and social comparison are mediated through digital interactions. Within this context, experiences of social rejection or peer exclusion can elicit heightened sensitivity to social feedback and increased dependence on digital engagement as a compensatory strategy. Similarly, body image dissatisfaction—intensified by the idealized representations frequently encountered on social media—may exacerbate adolescents’ emotional distress and their reliance on mobile devices for affirmation and reassurance.
Against this backdrop, the present study examined the interrelationships among peer rejection, negative body image, and mobile phone addiction in adolescents, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of the fear of missing out (FoMO) and coping mechanisms. The research adopted a correlational design combined with path analysis to elucidate the direct and indirect pathways linking these variables. The study population comprised adolescent students in Tehran during the 2024–2025 academic year, from which a total of 387 participants (214 boys and 173 girls) were selected using a cluster random sampling method to ensure demographic diversity and representativeness.
Data collection was conducted through a series of standardized psychometric instruments, including the Peer Rejection Questionnaire, the Ways of Coping Questionnaire, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, the Body Image Concern Inventory, and the Cellphone Addiction Scale. Statistical analyses revealed that both the fear of missing out and coping strategies (emotion-focused and problem-focused) functioned as significant mediators in the relationship between peer rejection, body image concerns, and mobile phone addiction (p < .001). These results suggest that adolescents who experience higher levels of rejection and body dissatisfaction are more likely to develop elevated FoMO and to employ maladaptive coping strategies, thereby increasing their susceptibility to problematic mobile phone use.
The findings contribute to a growing body of literature emphasizing the psychosocial antecedents of digital dependency among adolescents. By identifying the mediating psychological mechanisms, this study provides valuable insights for educators, psychologists, and policymakers aiming to design evidence-based interventions. Preventive and therapeutic strategies that foster adaptive coping skills, promote body positivity, and mitigate FoMO could serve as effective tools in reducing mobile phone overuse. Moreover, cultivating supportive social and educational environments may buffer adolescents against the adverse psychological consequences of excessive digital engagement. Collectively, these implications underscore the necessity of a multidimensional approach to adolescent well-being in the digital era—one that integrates psychological resilience, digital literacy, and healthy socialization practices.
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Цитирование
Fadakar, D.F., Amanollahi, Z., Ghasemi, N.F. (2026). The Relationship of Rejection and Negative Body Image with Adolescents’ Mobile Phone Addiction: The Mediating Role of Fear of Missing Out and Coping Strategies: Data set. RusPsyData: Psychological Research Data and Tools Repository. Moscow. https://doi.org/10.48612/MSUPE/ng46-3raz-ugxn (In Russ.).