Performative Happiness, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), and Emotional Dissonance among Married Social Media Couples

Abstract

The increasing integration of social media into daily life has transformed the way individuals present themselves, interact with others, and evaluate their personal experiences. Among married couples, frequent exposure to idealized online content may influence emotional experiences, self-perceptions, and psychological well-being. The present study examined the relationship between Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), Performative Happiness, Self-Discrepancy, and Emotional dissonance among married social media users. Specifically, the study investigated the mediating role of Performative Happiness in the relationship between FoMO and Self-Discrepancy, as well as Emotional dissonance. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed, and data were collected from (N=400) married social media users through purposive sampling. Standardized self-report measures were used to assess FoMO, Performative Happiness, Self-Discrepancy, and Emotional dissonance. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25, applying descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha reliability analysis, Pearson Product–Moment Correlation, Hayes’ PROCESS Macro (Model 4) for mediation analysis and t-test for gender differences. The findings revealed that FoMO was positively associated with Performative Happiness. Furthermore, Performative Happiness showed significant positive relationships with Self-Discrepancy and Emotional dissonance. However, mediation analysis indicated that Performative Happiness did not significantly mediate the relationship between FoMO and either Self-Discrepancy or Emotional dissonance. Nevertheless, FoMO demonstrated significant direct effects on both outcome variables, suggesting that individuals experiencing higher levels of FoMO are more likely to experience greater discrepancies between their actual and ideal selves and increased emotional dissonance. The findings highlight the psychological implications of social media-related fears among married users and contribute to understanding how online behaviors influence emotional well-being. The study may provide valuable insights for researchers, mental health professionals, and counselors in developing strategies to promote healthier social media engagement and psychological adjustment.