West Science Social and Humanities Studies
Vol. 3 No. 10 (2025): West Science Social and Humanities Studies

The Influence of Digital Empathy, Online Identity Formation, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and Social Media Fatigue on the Mental Health of Adolescents in West Java

Wijayanti, Christina Nur (Unknown)
Ruth, Natasha (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Oct 2025

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of digital empathy, online identity formation, fear of missing out (FoMO), and social media fatigue on the mental health of adolescents in West Java, Indonesia. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from 175 adolescent respondents through a Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS 3.0). The results reveal that digital empathy and online identity formation have a positive and significant effect on adolescents’ mental health, indicating that empathetic online behavior and authentic self-expression contribute to psychological well-being. Conversely, FoMO and social media fatigue demonstrate negative and significant effects, suggesting that excessive social comparison and emotional exhaustion reduce mental wellness. Moreover, social media fatigue mediates the relationship between FoMO and mental health, showing that digital overload acts as a psychological strain linking fear of exclusion to reduced well-being. The model explains 57% of the variance in mental health, indicating strong predictive power. These findings highlight the importance of cultivating digital empathy, promoting balanced online identity management, and implementing interventions to minimize FoMO and fatigue among youth. The study contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical strategies for enhancing adolescent digital well-being in the context of rapid social media engagement.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

wsshs

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Economics, Econometrics & Finance Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Public Health Social Sciences

Description

West Science Social and Humanities Studies is an academic journal that focuses on interdisciplinary research in the fields of social science, science, and humanities studies. The journal aims to present high-quality articles that make significant contributions to our understanding of society, ...