Transactions on Data Analysis in Social Science

Transactions on Data Analysis in Social Science

Technology Advanced Anxiety Syndrome (TAAS) among University Students: The Roles of Self-Esteem, Fear of Missing Out, and Technology Self-Efficacy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
F. Rahimova 1
A. Stewart 2
1 Department of Psychology, Tajik National University, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
10.22034/tdas.2025.255757
Abstract
The rapid integration of advanced technologies into everyday and academic life has been accompanied by new forms of psychological strain. This study examined the associations between Technology Advanced Anxiety Syndrome (TAAS), a proposed construct describing cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physiological responses to rapidly evolving technologies, and self-esteem, fear of missing out (FOMO) and technology self-efficacy. In a cross-sectional correlational design, 250 undergraduate and postgraduate students at universities in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, recruited by convenience sampling, completed a researcher-developed TAAS scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale and a technology self-efficacy scale. TAAS was negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −.52) and technology self-efficacy (r = −.48) and positively correlated with FOMO (r = .65). In multiple regression, the three predictors together explained 53% of the variance in TAAS; FOMO was the strongest predictor (β = .50), followed by self-esteem and technology self-efficacy (both β = −.21). The findings suggest that technology-related anxiety among students reflects not only technological complexity but also the social and self-evaluative pressures of digital participation and perceived competence. Universities may benefit from digital well-being programs that address FOMO and self-esteem alongside technical skills. Because the design is cross-sectional and the TAAS scale is newly developed, the results should be interpreted as associations that require replication with validated measures.
Keywords
Technology Advanced Anxiety Syndrome (TAAS)
Technology-related anxiety
Fear of missing out
Self-esteem
Technology self-efficacy
Digital well-being
University students
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Transactions on Data Analysis in Social Science
Volume 7, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 246-255

  • Receive Date 23 March 2025
  • Revise Date 04 June 2025
  • Accept Date 10 July 2025