The FOMO phenomenon based on a survey of Hungarian business students

Abstract

Purpose – The research aimed to investigate the phenomenon of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) among Hungarian university students majoring in economics. On the one hand, the study examines the students' self-evaluation of their competencies, as this is a key factor in terms of self-evaluation and social comparison when FOMO appears. On the other hand, it explores how they perceive the FOMO phenomenon in relation to their own careers and studies.

Design/methodology/approach – The authors carried out qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with three professionals with expertise in the field. The quantitative analysis was conducted at the Faculty of Foreign Trade of the Budapest University of Economics and Business with the participation of 432 students. The quantitative research involved a questionnaire for the participants to fill in online. The research results were analysed by the authors using SPSS version 28.

Findings – The research showed that there is a significant relationship between students’ self-evaluations of their skills and their gender, age and work experience. Based on the fear of falling behind, three groups were identified, and it was also shown that these fears were not significantly influenced by work experience.

Originality – The study found that students’ skill levels are associated with gender, age and work experience. However, the results also confirmed that although the FOMO phenomenon exists among students, it is not the sole reason for taking a job alongside studying in this sample.