Abstract

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) has become increasingly common among students who are constantly connected to social media and online marketplaces. The pressure to stay updated with trends and promotions, may encourage spontaneous purchases and weaken financial decision-making. This study investigates how FoMO relates to impulse buying tendencies among Entrepreneurship students at Bestlink College of the Philippines, focusing on two dimensions: cognitive impulse buying, which reflects reduced rational control, and affective impulse buying, which is driven by emotions such as excitement and urgency. A descriptive correlational approach was adopted to analyze the association between FoMO and impulsive purchasing tendencies. Participants were purposively selected students who were active users of online shopping platforms. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire composed of demographic items, the FoMO Scale, and the Impulse Buying Tendency Scale measuring cognitive and affective components. Weighted means were used to describe levels of each variable, and Spearman’s rho was applied to determine the strength and direction of their relationships. Results showed that students generally experienced moderate FoMO alongside moderate cognitive and affective impulse buying tendencies. Positive correlations emerged between FoMO and both forms of impulsive buying, indicating that stronger fears of missing out were associated with diminished rational evaluation and heightened emotion-based purchasing. Students who frequently monitored others’ activities were more likely to make unplanned online purchases. These findings suggest that FoMO plays a significant role in shaping students’ financial behavior in digital environments. The results support the development of preventive strategies, including psychoeducational seminars and counseling programs, to enhance awareness, strengthen self-regulation, and promote intentional spending practices among young consumers.