The mediating role of FoMO and the moderating role of narcissism in the impact of social exclusion on compulsive buying: a cross-cultural study.

BACKGROUND: There is an interrelationship between the concepts of social exclusion, compulsive buying behavior, fear of missing out (FoMO), and narcissism. Nevertheless, the extent to which these concepts mediate or moderate their relationships with each other has not been efficiently investigated. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to investigate how FoMO mediates and narcissism moderates the correlation between social exclusion and compulsive buying behavior. In addition, the research aims to test a conceptual model and highlight the differences that may occur in the conceptual model proposed in two different countries. METHODS: This model was analyzed among 1007 university students (Turkey = 506, Denmark = 501). The study used scales to measure social exclusion, compulsive buying behavior, FoMO, and narcissism. The study employed PROCESS Model 4 to analyze direct and indirect (mediation) effects and PROCESS Model 59 to assess conditional (moderation) effects. Furthermore, the Johnson-Neyman technique was utilized to investigate interaction terms. RESULTS: The findings indicate that those who face social exclusion tend to participate more in compulsive buying, and this connection is partly explained by FoMO. This suggests that individuals who encounter social exclusion may have an increased likelihood of experiencing FoMO, which may subsequently contribute to compulsive buying behavior. Furthermore, the moderating effect of narcissism differed between the Turkey and Danish samples. Specifically, in the Turkey sample, narcissism only modified the connection between social exclusion and FoMO, while in the Danish sample, it impacted both the connection between social exclusion and FoMO and the connection between FoMO and compulsive buying. CONCLUSION: The obtained results show that the regulating role of narcissism is different in Turkey and Denmark within the conceptual model we studied.

The relationship between social media addiction, fear of missing out and family functioning: a structural equation mediation model.

BACKGROUND: The use of social media became a daily activity for many individuals, with recreational, informational, and social purposes, to name a few. However, for some subjects, the use of these platforms may become problematic and generate functioning impairments in many life areas. Given this, the present research aimed at investigating the factor that may contribute to Social Media Addiction, by focusing on Fear of Missing Out and Family Functioning Patterns. METHODS: A sample of 303 social media users (Mage = 35.29; SD = 14.87; 65% females, 35% males) completed a survey including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales-IV, and Fear of Missing Out Scale. Data were analysed by implementing Pearson correlation and testing a mediation with the Structural Equation Model approach. RESULTS: Cohesion, flexibility, and disengagement family functioning patterns were significantly associated with the levels of social media addiction. These dimensions were inserted in the structural equation model, where the full mediation of fear of missing out in their relationship with social media addiction was shown. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed the protective effect of flexible and cohesive family functioning patterns, as well as the role of disengagement and, sequentially, fear of missing out as risk factors. These findings may provide useful indications to elaborate tailored and effective therapeutic and preventive activity.

Adaptación y validación al contexto argentino de la escala de fear of missing out / Adaptation and Validation of the Fear of Missing Out Scale to the Argentine Context / Adaptação e validação ao contexto argentino da escala fear of missing out

El presente trabajo se propone examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación al contexto argentino de la escala de fear of missing out (FoMO, miedo a perderse algo) en una muestra compuesta por residentes del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (amba, Argentina). La escala permite medir un único factor que establece el grado en que las personas se encuentran pendientes de las actividades ajenas en comparación con las propias. Del estudio participaron 416 personas con edades entre 18 y 66 años (M = 28.82) y de diferentes géneros (hombres = 25 %; mujeres = 75 %). Los análisis confirmatorios arrojaron valores superiores a 0.90 para los índices ifi, nnfi y cfi, y para el rmsea, valores inferiores a 0.08. La consistencia interna evaluada a partir de los estadísticos alfa ordinal y omega de McDonald fue aceptable (α = 0.77; ω = 0.99). La evidencia de validez externa de la escala demostró asociaciones significativas con la escala de autoestima de Rosenberg (rses), de manera consistente con estudios previos.

The present study examines the evidence of validity and reliability of the Argentine version of the fear of missing out (FoMO) scale in a sample of residents in the Area Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (amba) (Argentina). The scale consists in a single factor that allows us to measure the degree to which people are aware of other people's activities compared with their own experiences. This study involved 416 individuals with ages between 18 and 66 years (M = 28.82) and of different genders (Male = 25 %; Female = 75 %). The confirmatory factor analysis yielded values higher than 0.90 for the ifi, nnfi, and cfi indices and the rmseavalues lower than 0.08, figures considered as adequateadjustment indicators. The internal consistency was evaluated from Cronbach's Alpha and the McDonald's Omega statistic, obtaining acceptable figures (α = 0.77; ω = 0.99). The external validity analysis showed sig-nificant associations with the Rosenberg self-esteemscale, following previous studies

Este artigo tem como objetivo examinar as proprieda-des psicométricas da adaptação ao contexto argentino da escala fear of missing out (FoMO, medo de perder alguma coisa) em uma amostra composta por residen-tes da Região Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (rmba) (Argentina). A escala permite medir um único fator que estabelece o grau de conhecimento das pessoas sobre as atividades dos outros em comparação com as suas próprias. Participaram do estudo 416 pessoas com idades entre 18 e 66 anos (M = 28.82) e de diferentes gêneros (homens = 25 %; mulheres = 75 %). As aná-lises confirmatórias produziram valores superiores a 0.90 para os índices ifi, nnfi e cfi e valores inferiores a 0.08 para o rmsea. A consistência interna avaliada pelas estatísticas alfa e ômega ordinal de McDonald foram aceitáveis (α = 0.77; ω = 0.99). Evidências de validade externa da escala demonstraram associações significativas com a escala de autoestima de Rosenberg (rses), consistentes com estudos anteriores

Examining the Association Between Digital Stress Components and Psychological Wellbeing: A Meta-Analysis.

Extant research suggests that digital stress (DS) and its various components (Hall et al. in Psychol Assess 33(3):230-242, 2021) may mediate the association between social media use and psychosocial distress among adolescents and young adults. Yet no systematic review and meta-analysis has been conducted to examine the direct associations among DS components (i.e., approval anxiety, availability stress, fear of missing out [FOMO], connection overload, and online vigilance) and psychological outcomes. Thus, we aimed to comprehensively synthesize and quantify the association between these five DS components and psychosocial distress, and to examine whether these associations were statistically different from one another. Our search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Communication and Mass Media Complete yielded a wide range of article abstracts across the five DS components. After reviewing inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7, 73, 60, 19, and 16 studies were included for availability stress, approval anxiety, FOMO, connection overload, and online vigilance, respectively. The results suggested that all five digital stress components had significant medium association with psychosocial distress (r = .26 to .34; p < .001). Age and sex did not significantly moderate the association between most digital stress components and psychosocial distress. However, age moderated the association between connection overload and psychosocial distress. Our findings further suggested no statistical differences among the associations between the five digital stress components and psychosocial distress. Notwithstanding its limitations, our outcomes help integrate the disparate effect sizes in the literature, indicate the strength of associations, and suggest directions for clinical intervention and future research.

Why mobile social media-related fear of missing out promotes depressive symptoms? the roles of phubbing and social exclusion.

BACKGROUND: With the popularity of mobile socialization, people have become more closely connected with their phones. While people enjoy the convenience that phones bring (e.g., accessing information and socializing), they also feel anxious about missing out on certain information. Previous researches have shown that fear of missing out (FoMO) can trigger depressive symptoms, however, the underlying psychological mechanisms are not yet clear. In addition, limited research has explored this issue in the context of mobile social media. METHODS: To address this research gap, we surveyed 486 Chinese college students (278 males and 208 females, mean age = 19.95 years, SD = 1.14) and all participants completed a self-report questionnaire including mobile social media-related FoMO scale, phubbing scale, social exclusion scale, and the patient health questionnaire-9. The data were analyzed by SPSS24.0 and the Process macro and developed a mediating and moderating model incorporating phubbing and social exclusion. RESULTS: The results showed that (1) mobile social media-related FoMO (MSM-related FoMO) can significantly and positively predict depressive symptoms among college students; (2) phubbing partially mediates the relationship between MSM-related FoMO and depressive symptoms; (3) the direct predictive effect of MSM-related FoMO on depressive symptoms is moderated by social exclusion. CONCLUSION: These findings are not only valuable for understanding the underlying mechanisms linking MSM-related FoMO and depressive symptoms, but also contribute to the development of psychological intervention programs (e.g., interventions based on social exclusion or phubbing) aiming at reducing college students' depressive symptoms.

The mediating role of FoMO and the moderating role of narcissism in the impact of social exclusion on compulsive buying: a cross-cultural study

Abstract Background There is an interrelationship between the concepts of social exclusion, compulsive buying behavior, fear of missing out (FoMO), and narcissism. Nevertheless, the extent to which these concepts mediate or moderate their relationships with each other has not been efficiently investigated. Objective This research aims to investigate how FoMO mediates and narcissism moderates the correlation between social exclusion and compulsive buying behavior. In addition, the research aims to test a conceptual model and highlight the differences that may occur in the conceptual model proposed in two different countries. Methods This model was analyzed among 1007 university students (Turkey =506, Denmark =501). The study used scales to measure social exclusion, compulsive buying behavior, FoMO, and narcissism. The study employed PROCESS Model 4 to analyze direct and indirect (mediation) effects and PROCESS Model 59 to assess conditional (moderation) effects. Furthermore, the Johnson-Neyman technique was utilized to investigate interaction terms. Results The findings indicate that those who face social exclusion tend to participate more in compulsive buying, and this connection is partly explained by FoMO. This suggests that individuals who encounter social exclusion may have an increased likelihood of experiencing FoMO, which may subsequently contribute to compulsive buying behavior. Furthermore, the moderating effect of narcissism differed between the Turkey and Danish samples. Specifically, in the Turkey sample, narcissism only modified the connection between social exclusion and FoMO, while in the Danish sample, it impacted both the connection between social exclusion and FoMO and the connection between FoMO and compulsive buying. Conclusion The obtained results show that the regulating role of narcissism is different in Turkey and Denmark within the conceptual model we studied.

Validation of the Fear of Missing Out Scale for Use with African Americans in the United States.

Social media connects people in a myriad of ways, yet when prevented from staying connected, an experience of missing out on information and events perceived to be integral to one's well-being may ensue. Relatedness, a core construct of self-determination theory, is a primary influencer of motivation, and therefore being cut off from others has a negative impact on one's quality of life. Across diverse groups of people, social media is utilized for a variety of purposes directly related to connectedness, which implies inherent differences in how one's fear of missing out (FoMO) manifests in everyday life. This study employed the previously validated Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOS) with a nonclinical sample of African American and Caucasian college students in the United States, with a particular focus on validity of the measure with an African American cohort due to a lack of empirical evidence pertaining to with this demographic. Factor analyses yielded inconsistent findings from the FoMOS initial validation study, and results indicated differences in self-reported FoMO between the two racial groups. We speculate that observed group-based differences are at least partially the result of how individuals from each group understood and internalized the conceptual meaning of FoMO, supporting a hypothesis of practical differences in how anxieties related to missing out manifest. This may be due to individual or group-based differences in motivations for, or general purpose of, using social media.

Adaptation and validation of the Online-Fear of Missing Out Inventory into Turkish and the association with social media addiction, smartphone addiction, and life satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: In online environments, fear of missing out (FoMO) is where individuals become constantly preoccupied with what others are doing online and feel unable to log off in case they miss something. FoMO is a concept associated with the use of online social media (OSM; e.g., Facebook use, Instagram use) and various scales have been developed to assess the concept. One such scale is the Online Fear of Missing Out (On-FoMO) Inventory. The present study translated the On-FoMO Inventory into Turkish and its main aim was to test the validity and reliability of the scale. The secondary aim was to investigate the relationships between FoMO, social media addiction, smartphone addiction, and life satisfaction. METHODS: A total of 419 participants (289 females and 130 males, mean age = 25.43 years, SD = 6.37) completed a self-report questionnaire including the On-FoMO Inventory, Fear of Missing Out Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. In the adaptation process of the On-FoMO Inventory, confirmatory factor analysis, concurrent validity, and reliability analyses were performed. RESULTS: The four-factor structure of the On-FoMO Inventory was confirmed and the Turkish version of the scale demonstrated good reliability. Online FoMO was positively related to social media addiction and smartphone addiction, and negatively related to life satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the Turkish version of the On-FoMO Inventory has strong psychometric properties.

The Mediator Role of Fear of Missing Out in the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality and Problematic Internet Use.

The aim of the research is to examine the direct and indirect relationship between parent-adolescent relationship quality, problematic internet use, and fear of missing out. The sample consists of 547 university students (67% female and 33% male) aged between 17 and 23 (X = 22.15, SD = 2.86). Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality Scale, Fear of Missing Developments Scale, Problematic Internet Use Scale, and Personal Information Form were used to collect the study data. Research hypotheses were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of the analysis supported the research hypothesis and showed that the fear of missing out developments had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between the parent-individual relationship quality and problematic internet use. Research analysis showed that negative interaction with parents and creating a negative atmosphere can increase FoMO experiences among adolescents, which might increase their problematic internet use. Limitations, conclusions, and directions for future research are discussed.

The effect of risk perception and other psychological factors on mobile phone use while crossing the street among pedestrians.

Pedestrians may be the most vulnerable group among road users, and mobile phone use while crossing the street is ubiquitous worldwide in this information era. However, previous studies have found that such distracting behaviors may increase the risk of injury and death. The present study primarily aimed to explore the effect of reinforcement sensitivity theory components (i.e., Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), Behavioral Approach System (BAS)), risk perception, attitudes towards red light running, and fear of missing out (FoMO) on mobile phone use while crossing the street among pedestrians. Risk perception was measured in three ways (i.e., assessing the probability of a negative outcome (RP-Pro), judging the severity of the consequence (RP-Se), and evaluating the general riskiness of the behavior (RP-Ri)). An online questionnaire survey was conducted, and only valid responses (N = 425) were used for subsequent data analyses. The results indicated significant differences in the responses across the risk perception questions with different focuses. Participants who reported engaging in more distracted street-crossing (i.e., high-risk takers) perceived a significantly lower risk, and this difference did not depend on the focus of risk perception. Three path analysis models with differential risk perception constructs (RP-Pro, RP-Se, and RP-Ri) were developed to examine the relationship between risk perception and distracted street-crossing. The results suggest that the relationship between these two variables does not depend on the focus of the risk perception questions. Moreover, FoMO was a predictor of mobile phone use while crossing the street, while attitudes had both direct and indirect effects on behavior. BIS and BAS had the lowest total effect on mobile phone use among pedestrians. In particular, a direct association between BAS and distracted street-crossing was found only in the model in which risk perception was measured by judging the severity of crashes caused by mobile phone use distraction. This study may be meaningful for understanding the associations between psychological factors and mobile phone use among pedestrians. The implications of the findings for the development of safety interventions are discussed in this study.

Problematic Smartphone Use and Problematic Social Media Use: The Predictive Role of Self-Construal and the Mediating Effect of Fear Missing Out.

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) and problematic social media use (PSMU) are two interrelated constructs which have received significant research attention over the past decade. The present study investigated the relationship between self-construal (distinguished as independent and interdependent), PSU and PSMU with Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) as a mediating variable. The sample comprised 405 Italian students who completed standardized psychometric scales assessing the variables of the study. Bivariate correlations analysis showed that FoMO and independent self-construal was significantly and negatively associated. On the contrary, interdependent self-construal was significantly and positively associated with FoMO, PSU, and PSMU. Mediation analysis showed that FoMO mediated the relationship between self-construal and both PSMU and PSU, but at different levels. The results demonstrated that FoMO full mediated the relationships between interdependent self and PSU, whereas only partial mediation was found between interdependent self and PSMU. Therefore, taking these personality characteristics into account may help reduce dysfunctional behaviour associated with problematic technology use and promote psychological well-being among students. However, it is recommended that further studies replicate the proposed model by including other psychological constructs.

'You see the pictures the morning after and you're like I wish I was in them': an interpretative phenomenological analysis of university student's alcohol-related regrets.

OBJECTIVES: University students report experiencing regrettable health and social outcomes following excessive alcohol consumption. Students also report experiencing regret when they are unable to attend drinking events. This study explored how such experiences influence risk appraisals and decisions about future alcohol consumption. DESIGN AND MEASURES: Thirteen university students (69% female, 18-20 years old) discussed the interplay of regret with alcohol consumption, and nonattendance at drinking events, in one of three focus groups. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). RESULTS: IPA produced three super-ordinate themes: 'It's not something I would have done sober', 'Attitudes towards action regret' and 'Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)'. Participants reported regrettable experiences (e.g. alcohol poisoning, tattoos), and a gender difference in risk appraisals was apparent. Attitudes towards action regret affected risk appraisals and informed future drinking decisions. Participants reported experiencing FoMO when they were unable to attend drinking events. CONCLUSION: Regrettable incidents following excessive consumption were seen as common but did not affect risk appraisals or future drinking decisions. Students' reported they preferred the regrettable experiences that follow excessive consumption than the FoMO experienced when they were unable to attend drinking events, suggesting FoMO may drive attendance at future drinking events.

Does interpersonal sensitivity and paranoid ideation predict nomophobia: an analysis with a young adult sample.

Nomophobia has been studied extensively due to its negative effects on human health and psychology. In terms of clinical psychology, nomophobia has been linked consistently to depression and anxiety. Studies also investigated whether it is a dependency, an impulse control problem, an obsession or a phobia; however, no clear clinical representation was confirmed. Although it was proposed to be added as an official diagnosis to DSM-5, these attempts were inconclusive. In this study, nomophobia was examined clinically by SCL-90 factors. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed by controlling anxiety, depression, phobia and obsessions by putting them in the first step. At the next step, paranoid ideation was entered while interpersonal sensitivity was introduced at the last step. The variables were assigned according to the steps according to their connections confirmed by the literature, the correlation coefficients and ß weights obtained in the current study. The hierarchical regression analysis confirmed that after controlling anxiety, depression, phobia and obsessions, nomophobia is explained by interpersonal sensitivity. Paranoid ideation is also an important variable in step 2, but it lost its significance in the last step. Nevertheless, it was thought that what makes people sensitive to interpersonal issues is a kind of fear of missing out others' experiences (FoMO) which is related to nomophobia. This fear of missing out might prepare people to constantly check on mobile phones thinking paranoid about what they might have been missing or deprived of. Clinical implications and limitations were discussed.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) and internet use: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: FoMO has been considered a predisposing factor toward excessive internet use, and a great deal of literature has investigated the link between FoMO and internet use. However, there is still a lack of cohesion in the literature. METHODS: The current study have been conducted and reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). RESULTS: In the current systematic review and meta-analysis of 86 effect-sizes, representative of 55,134 participants (Mean age = 22.07, SD = 6.15, females = 58.37%), we found that the strength of the trait FoMO- internet use association significantly varies from r = 0.11 to r = 0.63. In some populations, FoMO appears to increase with age and it is reverse in other populations. Facebook use was unrelated to FoMO in some populations, and higher FoMO was linked with stopping Instagram use for some individuals. The FoMO- internet use association was independent of their severity, as the interaction was not significant, and this association was neither linear nor curvilinear. The FoMO-internet use association does not appear to be associated with depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms or level of life satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic was the only significant moderator of the FoMO-internet use association, strengthening this relationship. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: FoMO demonstrates a considerable role in internet use; however, there is no evidence of interaction or bi-directional association between the mentioned. Overall, we still don't know what factors contribute to individuals exhibiting distinct patterns in the FoMO-internet use association.

The relationship between basic psychological needs and phubbing: Fear of missing out as the mediator.

The aim of this study was to find out the association between basic psychological needs, fear of missing out (FOMO) and phubbing in university students with problematic smartphone use. Through the purposive sampling technique, a sample of 240 participants (men, Mage  = 20.93 years, SD = 1.07 years; women, Mage  = 20.76 years, SD = 0.89 years) was recruited from two private and two government university sectors of Lahore, Pakistan. Results were generated by using Multiple Hierarchical Regression, and Amos Path Analysis. The study depicted that psychological needs and FOMO emerged as predictors of phubbing. Furthermore, it was supported that fear of missing out acted as a mediator between psychological needs and phubbing. The findings of the study have yielded vital implications as a thorough understanding of problematic smartphone use will help raise awareness and educate the youth about its detrimental effects.

Well-Being and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on Digital Content in the Time of COVID-19: A Correlational Analysis among University Students.

The majority of research on the fear of missing out (FOMO) has focused on understanding how social media posts about attractive unattended experiences taking place in the physical world (e.g., a friend's vacation) influence individuals' affective states. With quarantine measures in place, and in the absence of travel and party photos on social media, do individuals feel they are missing out on enjoyable experiences? The current work shows that FOMO has not disappeared during the pandemic, even when socially distancing at home, but has been replaced by feelings towards new online activities (e.g., online concerts, virtual gatherings). As a consequence, we find that FOMO threatens well-being by causing important psychological and health issues, such as sleep deprivation, loss of focus, declined productivity, and finding relief in knowing that others have difficulty keeping up with abundant digital content. Importantly, we find these consequential effects both during the initial (May 2020) and late stages (December 2020) of the pandemic. With excessive Internet use and virtual FOMO likely to be a continuing reality of life, questions remain as to how one can refrain from its negative effects and stay healthy during the pandemic and in the post-pandemic era. We discuss remedies and suggest new research avenues that may help elevate the negative consequences of FOMO on well-being.

Relationship of smartphone use at night with sleep quality and psychological well-being among healthy students: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the differences between objective and subjective measures of smartphone use at night as predictors of sleep quality and psychological well-being: anxiety, depression, and fear of missing out (FoMO). METHODS: Smartphone use after sleep onset was measured using objective and subjective measures among 40 college students. The morning after the fourth night, they completed online questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and FoMO Scale (FoMOs). RESULTS: Objective measures showed that 40% of the participants actually awoke during the night and checked their smartphone. However, the subjective measures showed that they overestimated this behavior. More frequent nighttime checking of one's smartphone, as recorded by objective measures, was associated with lower sleep quality and psychological well-being. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated differences between objective and subjective measures of smartphone use at night. It also showed that an objective measurement of smartphone use could identify participants at risk for reduced sleep quality and psychological well-being.

Fear of Missing Out as a Predictor of Problematic Social Media Use and Phubbing Behavior among Flemish Adolescents.

Fear-of-missing-out (FOMO) refers to feelings of anxiety that arise from the realization that you may be missing out on rewarding experiences that others are having. FOMO can be identified as an intra-personal trait that drives people to stay up to date of what other people are doing, among others on social media platforms. Drawing from the findings of a large-scale survey study among 2663 Flemish teenagers, this study explores the relationships between FOMO, social media use, problematic social media use (PSMU) and phubbing behavior. In line with our expectations, FOMO was a positive predictor of both how frequently teenagers use several social media platforms and of how many platforms they actively use. FOMO was a stronger predictor of the use of social media platforms that are more private (e.g., Facebook, Snapchat) than platforms that are more public in nature (e.g., Twitter, Youtube). FOMO predicted phubbing behavior both directly and indirectly via its relationship with PSMU. These findings support extant research that points towards FOMO as a factor explaining teenagers' social media use.

[Friend or Foe in the Pocket? - The Role of the Individual, Peergroup and Parents for (dys)functional Mobile Phone Use]. / Feind oder Freund in meiner Hosentasche? ­ Zur Rolle von Individuum, Peergroup und Eltern für die (dys)funktionale Handynutzung.

Friend or Foe in the Pocket? - The Role of the Individual, Peergroup and Parents for (dys)functional Mobile Phone Use In order to provide consultative support to parents as well as to children and young people, background knowledge regarding the motives of mobile phone use, functions of usage, comprehension of the attraction of this all-round medium also as knowledge about potential hazards are essential. This study offers empirical results about potentials and risks. The peergroup plays an important role for riskful and problematic mobile phone involvement. Parents function as a role model and the explicit parental mediation practices and their impact on the child are in focus. Data was acquired from a quota-sample survey with 500 children between the age of 8 and 14 years and one of their parents, qualitative interviews (20 children and their parents) and eight peergroup-discussions (52 participants). The present paper illuminates the above mentioned aspects and derives implications for guidance practice.