Social support and technological displacement anxiety among ride-hailing drivers: The mediating roles of self-efficacy and qualitative job insecurity

The rapid commercialization of autonomous driving has triggered significant technological displacement anxiety among ride-hailing drivers. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and social support theory, this study examines the association between social support and technological displacement anxiety, including potential indirect associations involving self-efficacy and qualitative job insecurity in parallel and serial mediation models. A survey of 447 ride-hailing drivers was conducted using standardized scales (SSRS, GSES, and specific anxiety/insecurity measures), with data analyzed via bootstrap mediation methods. Results revealed a significant negative correlation between social support and technological displacement anxiety. Crucially, the impact of social support is transmitted through three pathways: the independent mediating effects of self-efficacy and qualitative job insecurity, and a sequential chained mediating pathway: social support → self-efficacy → qualitative job insecurity → displacement anxiety (effect size = -0.035, 95% CI [-0.053, -0.019]). These findings indicate that higher social support was associated with lower technological displacement anxiety, alongside higher self-efficacy and lower qualitative job insecurity. This research identifies potential psychological pathways that may inform the future development and evaluation of mental-health and occupational-support interventions for ride-hailing drivers and may also offer implications for other gig workers facing AI-driven disruption.