Associations Between Labor Control Through Digital Platforms and Workers' Mental Wellbeing: A Survey of Location-based Platform Workers in Taiwan

IF 3.5 3区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Safety and Health at Work Pub Date : 2024-12-01 DOI:10.1016/j.shaw.2024.08.003

Yawen Cheng , Wan-Ju Cheng , Ro-Ting Lin , Yi-Ting Wang , Jyh-Jer Roger Ko

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Platform work offers flexibility and autonomy to workers, but there are concerns about the impacts of excessive labor control exercised by digital platforms using algorithmic management. This study assessed the level of labor control exerted by digital platforms and explored its associations with psychosocial work conditions and workers' mental well-being.

Methods

A total of 487 location-based platform workers in Taiwan, encompassing ride-hailing, delivery, and house chore services, participated in this questionnaire survey. A 5-item scale was created to assess platform-mediated labor control. Psychosocial work conditions, including demands, job control, work rewards, and mental well-being, including burnout and self-rated mental health status, were assessed using validated instruments. Cronbach's α and principal component analysis were employed to assess the validity of the labor control scale. Logistic regression analysis and path analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between labor control and workers' mental health.

Results

Exploratory factor analyses confirmed the structural validity and the internal consistency of the scale. Logistic regression models revealed that higher levels of labor control were associated with an increased risk of burnout and poorer mental health. Path analyses further indicated that higher labor control through digital platforms raised mental health risks by increasing job demands.

Conclusion

Algorithmic management is associated with increased stress among platform workers as they try to meet the platform's performance metrics.

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数位平台劳动控制与员工心理健康之关系：以台湾地区职位平台员工为调查对象

后台平台工作为工人提供了灵活性和自主权，但人们担心使用算法管理的数字平台过度控制劳动力的影响。本研究评估了数字平台施加的劳动控制水平，并探讨了其与社会心理工作条件和工人心理健康的关系。方法选取台湾地区487名网约车、外卖、家政服务等定位平台从业人员进行问卷调查。建立了一个5项量表来评估平台介导的劳动控制。使用经过验证的工具评估心理社会工作条件，包括需求、工作控制、工作奖励和心理健康，包括倦怠和自评心理健康状况。采用Cronbach’s α和主成分分析对劳动控制量表的效度进行评估。采用Logistic回归分析和通径分析探讨劳动控制与工人心理健康的关系。结果探索性因素分析证实了量表的结构效度和内部一致性。Logistic回归模型显示，较高的劳动控制水平与倦怠风险增加和心理健康状况较差有关。路径分析进一步表明，通过数字平台进行的更高的劳动控制通过增加工作需求而增加了心理健康风险。算法管理与平台工作人员的压力增加有关，因为他们试图满足平台的绩效指标。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Safety and Health at Work Social Sciences-Safety Research

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

5.70%

发文量

1080

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Safety and Health at Work (SH@W) is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal published quarterly in English beginning in 2010. The journal is aimed at providing grounds for the exchange of ideas and data developed through research experience in the broad field of occupational health and safety. Articles may deal with scientific research to improve workers'' health and safety by eliminating occupational accidents and diseases, pursuing a better working life, and creating a safe and comfortable working environment. The journal focuses primarily on original articles across the whole scope of occupational health and safety, but also welcomes up-to-date review papers and short communications and commentaries on urgent issues and case studies on unique epidemiological survey, methods of accident investigation, and analysis. High priority will be given to articles on occupational epidemiology, medicine, hygiene, toxicology, nursing and health services, work safety, ergonomics, work organization, engineering of safety (mechanical, electrical, chemical, and construction), safety management and policy, and studies related to economic evaluation and its social policy and organizational aspects. Its abbreviated title is Saf Health Work.