Algorithmic management stressors and aggressive driving behavior: Roles of attentiveness and regulatory focus

Abstract

The rise of ride-hailing platforms has changed customers’ travel preferences and improved traffic efficiency. However, even though they are vital to ensuring customers’ safety and satisfaction, the roles of algorithmic management stressors in shaping ride-hailing drivers’ driving behavior are not well understood. This study draws on affective event theory to theorize how algorithmic management challenge and hindrance stressors manifest themselves in impacting aggressive driving behavior in the context of ride-hailing services. A time-lagged questionnaire survey design was used to collect data from 330 drivers working for ride-hailing services at four different time points. Latent mediation-moderation structural equation modeling was used to test the conceptual model. The results indicate that: 1) Algorithmic management challenge stressors undermine, while hindrance stressors promote, aggressive driving behavior. 2) Attentiveness mediates the indirect impacts of both algorithmic management challenge and hindrance stressors on aggressive driving behavior. 3) Promotion regulatory focus amplifies the indirect negative relationship that links algorithmic management challenge stressors through attentiveness to aggressive driving behavior. 4) Prevention regulatory focus amplifies the indirect positive relationship that links algorithmic management hindrance stressors through attentiveness to aggressive driving behavior. This study incorporates the aggressive driving behavior of ride-hailing drivers in the algorithmic era into road safety research by integrating the affective pathway of attention and drivers’ characteristics. The aim is to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms and boundaries between algorithmic management stressors and aggressive driving behavior.