Psikodimensia: Kajian Ilmiah Psikologi
Vol 25, No 1: June 2026

Caught in a Flood of Negative Information: Doomscrolling and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) as Predictors of Negative Affect in Generation Z

Salfatya Santoso (Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang)
Abdullah Azzam Al Afghani (Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 Jun 2026

Abstract

Generation Z’s heavy use of social media increases their exposure to negative information, which can lead to psychological effects such as negative affect, unpleasant emotional experiences like anger, fear, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This condition is linked to the phenomenon of doomscrolling, the habit of continuously scrolling through negative content, as well as Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), the feeling of anxiety about being left out of others’ information or social experiences. This research aims to analyze the extent to which doomscrolling and FoMO predict negative affect among Generation Z social media users. This research employs a quantitative approach using purposive sampling on 150 Generation Z individuals who are active social media users. The instruments used include the Doomscrolling Scale, the Online Fear of Missing Out (ON-FoMO) Scale, and the Negative Affect Scale. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results indicate that doomscrolling and FoMO are simultaneously positive and significant predictors of negative affect, with an effective contribution of 19.5%. These findings suggest that repetitive negative information and digital social anxiety can increase negative affect among Generation Z.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

psi

Publisher

Subject

Physics

Description

PSIKODIMENSIA is a scientific study that contains the results of research, thought and dissemination that aims to improve research, reviews and applications in the field of psychology. As a forum, communication media, and scientific development, the editorial received a contribution to the article ...