Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Authors

• Ali asghar Jesmi ¹
• Motahareh Delshad ²

¹ Faculty member, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences.

² Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

Abstract

 
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological response to stress arising from traumatic events—such as horror, helplessness, and fear. In addition to the diagnostic criteria of re-experiencing traumatic events, avoidance, and hyper arousal, the DSM-5 also includes the criterion of persistent negative alterations in cognition and mood. PTSD can develop following various traumatic experiences, including war, sexual assault, natural disasters, industrial accidents, bereavement, and similar events (1). The prevalence of PTSD is notably higher among populations frequently exposed to traumatic events, such as those affected by war, with reports suggesting rates of up to 50% in these populations (2). One factor that may exacerbate PTSD is the phenomenon known as Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).
FOMO—translated into Persian as "fear of missing out," "fear of being left behind," or more precisely, "anxiety of deprivation"—is a relatively recent psychological construct. British psychologists have described it as a "pervasive concern that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent" (3). FOMO is characterized by a persistent desire to remain connected to what others are doing or experiencing. It has been conceptualized within the framework of self-determination theory, initially developed by Ryan and colleagues (4) and later applied by Przybylski and collaborators to understand the motivational mechanisms underlying FOMO (3).
FOMO encompasses two interrelated processes: the perception of being left out and compulsive behaviors aimed at maintaining social connectivity. The link between FOMO and PTSD, particularly in the context of crises such as the recent twelve-day conflict between Israel and Iran, may at first glance appear indirect; however, several important psychological and social connections exist between the two.
Firstly, during wartime, individuals—both in directly affected areas and in less exposed regions—constantly monitor news, messages, and posts shared by others. This persistent media engagement heightens exposure to traumatic content. Continuous confrontation with images of death, destruction, displacement, and violence can facilitate indirect psychological trauma, which is a common pathway to PTSD in the general population.
Secondly, individuals who perceive themselves as having played no role in the crisis may develop feelings of guilt, inadequacy, or exclusion. These experiences can foster persistent anxiety or mild depression, both of which create vulnerability to delayed-onset PTSD.
During the recent twelve-day imposed war by the occupying Israeli regime against Iran, this phenomenon was particularly evident across diverse social groups. Individuals repeatedly sought or were exposed to war-related news via social media platforms, leading to compulsive behavioral patterns. Such behaviors were associated with heightened anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances (e.g., insomnia), and impaired concentration (5).
Given that preserving mental health is a primary objective of health systems during crises such as war, policymakers can mitigate these effects by implementing strategies such as limiting the dissemination of war-related content via social media platforms (e.g., Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram). Since these platforms were exploited by the occupying Israeli regime as tools of psychological warfare to diminish resilience and hope within society, their regulation could both hinder the escalation of enemy-driven psychological warfare and reduce the mental health burden associated with FOMO, which exerts multiple adverse consequences on individual and community well-being.

Keywords

• Fear of missing out
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• Imposed War

Main Subjects

• Psychology