The Relationship Between Impulsivity and Emotional Intelligence Traits and Fear Of Missing Out in Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: Adolescence is a critical life stage in which individuals discover their identities, shape their social relationships and undergo emotional maturation. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between impulsivity and emotional intelligence traits of adolescents with the fear of missing out. Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 1222 adolescents (458 males, 764 females) aged 14-17 years. Data were collected face-to-face using a sociodemographic data form, Barratt Impulsivity Scale-Brief, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire–Short Form and Fear of Missing Out Scale. Data were analyzed by t-test, One-Way ANOVA, correlation, and regression analyses using SPSS 25.0 package program. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between impulsivity and age, gender, father's education level, parental relationship and total time spent on daily social media; between emotional intelligence traits and gender, income level and total time spent on daily social media; and between fear of missing out and gender, grade and total time spent on daily social media. A moderate negative relationship (r=-0.444) was found between impulsivity and emotional intelligence traits. A weak positive correlation (r=0.223) was found between fear of missing out and impulsivity, and a weak negative correlation (r=-0.303) was found between emotional intelligence traits. It was determined that 5% of adolescents' fear of missing out was explained by impulsivity (R2=0.050; p<0.001) and 5.2% was explained by emotional intelligence traits (R2change=0.052; p<0.001). Conclusions: The levels of impulsivity, emotional intelligence traits and fear of missing out differed according to the sociodemographic information of the adolescents. It was observed that impulsivity increased the fear of missing out, whereas impulsivity and fear of missing out decreased when emotional intelligence traits were developed. It was determined that emotional intelligence traits of adolescents reduced the effect of impulsivity on the fear of missing out by half.