ArticleScientific reports2026
Psychological distress and problematic social media use among Moroccan youth mediated by fear of missing out and social media engagement.
Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Social media use motives and academic performance among Saudi medical students: the mediating role of perceived stress.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
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Abstract
Problematic social media use (PSMU) is an increasing global concern, especially among adolescents and young adults, because of its associations with adverse mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and stress. While much research has been conducted in Western contexts, little is known about PSMU in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in Morocco. This study estimated PSMU prevalence among Moroccan adolescents and young adults and examined its psychosocial correlates, focusing on psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress), and tested whether fear of missing out (FoMO) and social media engagement (SME) mediate these relationships. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with N = 2202 adolescents and young adults (1298 females (58.95%), 904 males (41.05%) ; aged 14–23 years). Validated instruments were used to assess PSMU (BSMAS), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), FoMO, and SME. Statistical analyses included descriptive analyses, correlations, and multiple mediation models. PSMU prevalence was 25.5%, (95% CI [23.7%, 27.3%]) and was higher among females, older adolescents and young adults, urban residents, and participants with lower socioeconomic status. Psychological distress positively associated with PSMU symptoms (BSMAS total), and FoMO and SME partially mediated these associations. The SEM model explained 35% of the variance in PSMU (R² = 0.35). PSMU is highly prevalent among Moroccan adolescents and young adults and was associated with psychological distress, sociodemographic characteristics, and behavioral mediators such as FoMO and SME. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored prevention and intervention programs to promote healthier social media behaviors and enhance adolescent well-being.
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