From early adversity to digital dependency: Self-Esteem and FOMO as mediators between ACEs and social media addiction in Gen Z Men

This study investigates the psychological mechanisms linking adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to social media addiction (SMA) among Israeli Gen Z men, focusing on the mediating roles of self-esteem and fear of missing out (FOMO). While ACEs are known to increase vulnerability to emotional and behavioral dysregulation, less is known about how these early experiences translate into problematic digital engagement, particularly within the sociocultural and generational frameworks that shape masculinity and online behavior.

Drawing on Sociometer Theory, Compensatory Internet Use Theory, and Generational Cohort Theory, the study conceptualizes SMA as a compensatory behavioral pattern that emerges in response to relational insecurity and identity-relevant distress. In this model, ACEs undermine the development of stable self-esteem and intensify FOMO, leading to compulsive use of social media as a means of social validation and emotional self-regulation.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 361 Hebrew-speaking cisgender Israeli men aged 18–29. Mediation analyses using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 6) supported the hypothesized indirect effects: ACEs were negatively associated with self-esteem, which in turn predicted higher FOMO and greater SMA. FOMO was found to be a robust predictor of SMA. Importantly, the direct association between ACEs and SMA was not significant, underscoring the importance of the mediating psychological processes. These findings suggest that digital dependency in young men with ACEs is less an immediate consequence of trauma and more a reflection of identity-related vulnerabilities shaped by early exclusion and ongoing sociometric sensitivity.

The study situates these findings within the broader Israeli context, where young men are simultaneously immersed in global digital norms that encourage emotional visibility and subjected to local sociocultural expectations of strength, autonomy, and militarized masculinity. Military service, often initiated at age 18, imposes rapid and rigid gender role transitions that reinforce emotional suppression, physical resilience, and stoic self-reliance, leaving little room for the fluid expressions of masculinity often visible on social platforms. The coexistence of these conflicting expectations contributes to psychological dissonance and complicates the regulation of self-worth in both online and offline settings.

By focusing on a high-risk and understudied subgroup – Gen Z men with ACE histories navigating identity in a generationally distinct and culturally complex environment, this study contributes to the literature on SMA by highlighting the interplay between developmental adversity, digital life, and gendered identity performance. It offers both theoretical and practical implications for mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers working to understand and address compulsive digital behavior among young adults.

Prof. Sabina Lissitsa, PhD, is a Full Professor and Dean of the School of Communication at Ariel University, Israel. She also heads the MA Program in Communication, Information, and Governance. Her research intersects media studies, digital inequality, generational cohorts, and social stratification, with a focus on the psychological effects of media consumption and technology use across diverse populations. Prof. Lissitsa's work examines intergroup relations, STEM education, and the role of social media in shaping societal attitudes and mental health outcomes, offering impactful insights into contemporary global challenges.