Because of the high prevalence of smartphone use in early adolescence, communication between classroom peers increasingly occurs via online chat groups. Recent studies indicate that online classmate groups are places in which different forms of peer exclusion can occur, including being banned from participating in the groups, not being invited to join them, or being shunned by online peers. In order to avoid being offended by peers, students may even decide to self-exclude from participating in the groups. Peer exclusion represents a significant source of suffering for early adolescents, with long-lasting consequences on their well-being. In this study, we investigated the relationship between exclusion from WhatsApp classmate groups and emotional symptoms among early adolescents. Additionally, the fear of missing out (FoMO) was examined as a potential mediator of the relationship between peer exclusion and emotional distress. The sample consisted of 398 middle schoolers (age: M = 12.54 years; SD = 0.96) residing in Italy. We found that positive relationships existed between peer exclusion, emotional symptoms, and FoMO. Findings supported the role of FoMO as a mediator in the link between peer exclusion and emotional symptoms. Results are discussed in light of the implications for the assessment of the quality of student-student interactions.

由于青春期早期使用智能手机的普遍性很高，教室同龄人之间的通信越来越多地通过在线聊天组进行。最近的研究表明，在线同学群体是发生不同形式的同伴排斥的地方，包括被禁止参加该群体，不被邀请加入他们或被在线同伴所回避。为了避免受到同伴的冒犯，学生甚至可以决定将自己排除在参加小组之外。同伴排斥是早期青少年的重要苦难根源，对他们的福祉产生长期的影响。在这项研究中，我们调查了WhatsApp同学群体被排斥与青少年早期情绪症状之间的关系。此外，作为同伴排斥和情绪困扰之间关系的潜在中介，人们检验了对失踪的恐惧（FoMO）。该样本由398名居住在意大利的初中生组成（年龄：M = 12.54岁； SD = 0.96）。我们发现同伴排斥，情绪症状和FoMO之间存在正向关系。研究结果支持了FoMO在同伴排斥和情绪症状之间的联系中的中介作用。根据评估学生与学生互动质量的意义讨论了结果。研究结果支持了FoMO在同伴排斥和情绪症状之间的联系中起中介作用。根据评估学生与学生互动质量的意义讨论了结果。研究结果支持了FoMO在同伴排斥和情绪症状之间的联系中起中介作用。根据评估学生与学生互动质量的意义讨论了结果。