The relationship between Interpersonal Dependency and fear of mising out among Medical Students (MBBS)

Achieving a place in medical school across India means facing steep competition - few openings meet intense scholarly demands, which sometimes weighs heavily on learners’ minds. This strain can chip away at belief in personal ability, pushing some toward friends for comfort. Meanwhile, being online more frequently, through apps and connected devices, ties into feelings described as FOMO: uneasy thoughts about missing out when others seem engaged in satisfying moments elsewhere. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between interpersonal dependency and FOMO among MBBS students. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational research design was used. The sample consisted of 200 medical students aged 17–25 years selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI-48) and the Fear of Missing Out Scale. Statistical analysis using SPSS revealed a significant positive relationship between interpersonal dependency and FOMO, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis and highlighting the influence of interpersonal tendencies on students’ social and emotional experiences.