The association between workplace fear of missing out and work engagement and motivation to learn, and the moderating role of mindfulness

Abstract

Workplace Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is a pervasive apprehension that, relative to other employees, one might miss valuable career opportunities when away or disconnected from work. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between workplace FoMO and work engagement and between workplace FoMO and motivation to learn. In addition, a moderating role of mindfulness on the association between workplace FoMO and work engagement was examined. This research expands the scientific research of workplace FoMO, work engagement, motivation to learn and mindfulness. In total, 166 participants were included in this study. Contrary to the expectation, workplace FoMO did not negatively associate with work engagement. No negative of positive association between workplace FoMO and work engagement was found. As expected, a positive association of workplace FoMO with the motivation to learn was found. Higher levels of workplace FoMO lead to more motivation to learn. Furthermore, it was expected that mindfulness would weaken the association between workplace FoMO and mindfulness. However, a strengthening effect was found. The higher the level of mindfulness, the more workplace FoMO decreased work engagement. Because workplace FoMO is a relatively new concept, future research will need to further clarify the full range of effects of workplace FoMO and the ways in which workplace FoMO itself is affected.