Perceived Stress, Loneliness and Fear of Missing Out: A Comparative Study between Gen Z and Millennials

Abstract

The development of social networking sites and internet usage has undoubtedly altered the way younger generations interact with the world. Gen Z, defined as individuals born between 1997 and 2012, and Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are the first generations to grow up with constant access to the internet and social media. With the advent of smartphones and social networking platforms, these cohorts are not only consuming information in novel ways but also dealing with complex social dynamics mediated by digital technology. Therefore, it was decided to conduct a study to explore generational differences in Perceived Stress, Loneliness, and Fear of Missing Out between Gen Z and Millennials. Additionally, it also investigated the relationships of Perceived Stress and Loneliness with Fear of Missing out. In the current study, a total of 214 participants (107 Gen Z, 107 Millennials) aged 15-40 were assessed using 3 tools known as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10; Cohen et al., 1983), UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3; Russell, 1996) and Fear of Missing Out Scale (Przybylski et al., 2013). The findings revealed no significant differences in Perceived Stress and Loneliness between the two generational cohorts. However, an intriguing discovery emerged, indicating that Gen Z experiences a higher level of Fear of Missing Out compared to Millennials, signifying a significant difference between the groups on this aspect. Furthermore, the study identified significant positive correlations between Perceived Stress and Fear of Missing Out, as well as Loneliness and Fear of Missing Out. Moreover, Perceived Stress emerged as a significant predictor of Fear of Missing Out.