What is irrational in fearing to miss out on being online. An application of the I-PACE model regarding the role of maladaptive cognitions in problematic internet use.

• Maladaptive cognitions, e.g. irrational beliefs, influence problematic internet use. • Fear of missing out is an important antecedent of problematic internet use. • Fear of missing out mediates between irrationality and problematic internet use. • The relationships investigated here may go beyond current conceptualizations. • The I-PACE model is very adequate for the study of maladaptive online behaviors.