Unveiling gendered pathways of job insecurity: a moderated moderated-mediation model in the Indian gig economy

Purpose Building on Conservation of Resources (COR) and Threat Rigidity theories, this study explores the relationship between perceived job insecurity, rumination, and psychological withdrawal among gig workers. It further investigates the moderating role of psychological resilience and examines how this relationship differs across genders. Design/methodology/approach A time-lagged survey design using snowball sampling was employed to collect data from 508 food delivery workers across Southern India, a fast-growing segment of informal and gig-based labour. Data were analyzed using SPSS PROCESS Macros and AMOS, applying a moderated moderated-mediation framework. Findings Results confirmed that perceived job insecurity is positively related to psychological withdrawal. Negative rumination emerged as a significant mediator in this relationship. The mediating effect of rumination was moderated by psychological resilience, where higher resilience reduced the impact of insecurity on rumination. Furthermore, this moderating effect of resilience differed by gender, with distinct patterns observed for male and female gig workers. These findings emphasize the critical role of gender in shaping how workers respond to job insecurity and related psychological outcomes. Practical implications The study offers practical insights for organizations and gig platforms to develop strategies that enhance resilience among gig workers. Such strategies can help workers better manage job insecurity during turbulent periods and unforeseen crises. This is highly relevant for workforce planners and policymakers seeking to support non-traditional employment segments. Originality/value By focusing on the Indian gig economy, this study contributes to the literature by highlighting psychological resilience as a crucial individual resource and revealing important gender-specific differences in how job insecurity affects psychological withdrawal.