South Africans live in constant fear of missing out

iAfrica.com reports that a study by pharmaceutical firm Pharma Dynamics showed that two-thirds of some 3000 South African respondents in a nationwide survey, aged between 15 and 50 years, live in "constant fear" of missing out on something more exciting that what they are doing.

People with FOMO constantly push the boundaries - even when they are sick, they still go to work, refuse to miss out on social events, and "they can't say no," said Pharma Dynamics spokeswoman Mariska Fouche, adding that FOMO elevates stress levels, putting "a lot of additional strain on our immune system that in turn heightens our risk of more serious illness." iAfrica.com says the firm stumbled on the finding while studying what drove a rising demand for immune-boosting supplements.

According to iAfrica.com, more than a third of people surveyed said they often interrupt one call to take another and check online social sites like their Twitter stream or Facebook page while on a date, for fear that something more interesting might just be happening.

Read the full article on lifestyle.iafrica.com