From Likes to Lows: A Serial Mediation Analysis of How Social Media Addiction, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), Emotional Regulation, Assessment Engagement, and Assessment Anxiety Influence Depression Among Adolescents in Ghana

Adolescent mental health is increasingly influenced by the pervasive use of social media and academic pressures, yet the psychological pathways underlying these effects remain underexplored in Ghana. This study investigated the complex relationships and serial mediation effects of social media addiction, Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), emotional dysregulation, assessment engagement, and assessment anxiety on depression among adolescents in Ghana. Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a large sample of 1,350 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years using an online survey distributed across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. The study utilized validated psychometric scales demonstrating strong reliability (Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.87 to 0.93) and satisfactory convergent validity (Average Variance Extracted > 0.50). Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between key variables, with social media addiction positively correlated with depression (r = .40, p < .01), FoMO (r = .48, p < .01), and emotional dysregulation (r = .44, p < .01). Serial mediation analysis (PROCESS Model 6) demonstrated that social media addiction had a significant direct effect on depression (β = 0.31, p < .001), and indirect effects through FoMO, emotional dysregulation, and assessment anxiety significantly contributed to depression (total indirect effect β = 0.22, 95% CI [0.11, 0.24]). The overall model explained 49% of the variance in depression (R² = 0.49). Specifically, FoMO significantly predicted emotional dysregulation (β = 0.36, p < .001), which in turn negatively predicted cognitive assessment engagement (β = -0.22, p < .001) and positively predicted emotional assessment anxiety (β = 0.30, p < .001). Assessment anxiety also directly predicted depression (β = 0.26, p < .001). These findings highlight a pathway whereby social media addiction elevates depression risk through heightened FoMO, emotional dysregulation, and assessment-related anxiety, alongside diminished cognitive engagement in assessments. The study underscores the multifaceted psychological mechanisms linking digital behaviors and academic stressors to adolescent mental health in Ghana, suggesting targeted interventions addressing emotional regulation and anxiety management may mitigate depressive symptoms. The cross-sectional design and broad national sampling provide a valuable snapshot of these dynamics, informing future longitudinal and intervention research.