The Role of Qana’ah as Emotion Regulation in Overcoming Fear of Missing Out: An Islamic Psychology Perspective

Abstract

The phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has emerged as a significant psychological issue in the digital era, characterized by anxiety, dissatisfaction, and concerns about being excluded from experiences perceived as enjoyable or valuable by others. From an Islamic psychology perspective, FoMO is closely associated with excessive social comparison, dissatisfaction, and difficulties in regulating negative emotions. This study aims to examine the role of qana’ah as a form of emotion regulation in overcoming FoMO from an Islamic psychology perspective. This study employed a qualitative method using a library research approach. Data were collected through the analysis of relevant scholarly literature on FoMO, emotion regulation, qana’ah, and Islamic psychology, and were analyzed descriptively and conceptually. The findings indicate that qana’ah, understood as inner satisfaction, gratitude, and acceptance of Allah’s provision, can serve as a psychological and spiritual mechanism for regulating emotions associated with FoMO. Qana’ah encourages individuals to reduce excessive social comparison, manage unlimited worldly desires, develop gratitude, and achieve greater psychological balance. In this context, qana’ah provides an Islamic framework for responding to FoMO by shifting the individual’s orientation from external comparison and the pursuit of others’ experiences toward self-acceptance, gratitude, and contentment with what Allah has provided. Thus, qana’ah can function as an emotion-regulation approach that helps individuals reduce the negative psychological tendencies underlying FoMO while strengthening spiritual well-being.