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Predicting disordered eating behaviors with internet addiction, socia media use, and FOMO
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Predicting disordered eating behaviors with internet addiction, socia media use, and FOMO

Evan Harris
University of West Florida,
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2020

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Abstract

Past research has found possible relationships between addictive internet use, social media use, and the fear of missing out (FOMO) and disordered eating behaviors. However, little research has been conducted to determine if these three factors can predict whether or not someone will engage in a disordered eating behavior. The present study was designed to establish such a relationship. Participants answered questions from a survey with from validated questionnaires (PIUQ, SME, FOMO, and EAT-III) that measured their addictive internet use behaviors, their social media use, their FOMO levels, and whether or not they engaged in five disordered eating behaviors: fasting, restricting meal size, using food substitutes, skipping meals, and smoking. Five hypotheses were developed and tested via logistic regression, predicting that the three independent variables would successfully predict participant engagement in all the disordered eating behaviors except for smoking. The results support the hypotheses, with fasting, restricting meal size, using food substitutes, and skipping meals all being significantly predicted by addictive internet usage, social media use, and FOMO. Social media use was a particularly significant predictor of reducing meal size and using food substitutes, and FOMO was a particularly significant predictor of reducing meal size and skipping meals.
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