Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders
BackgroundWith the rapid development of global digital economy, burnout among food delivery riders has become an important public health issue. Although burnout has been widely studied, research on burnout among food delivery riders, particularly the impact of algorithmic management on riders’ burno...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1531541/full |
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| author | Jian Dong Guoyong Zhang Lizhi Wu |
| author_facet | Jian Dong Guoyong Zhang Lizhi Wu |
| author_sort | Jian Dong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWith the rapid development of global digital economy, burnout among food delivery riders has become an important public health issue. Although burnout has been widely studied, research on burnout among food delivery riders, particularly the impact of algorithmic management on riders’ burnout remains limited. This study adopts a novel perspective on the intersection of algorithmic management and burnout, offering an in-depth examination of the burnout levels of food delivery riders under the strict control of algorithmic management and identifying its influencing factors.MethodsA survey of 953 food delivery riders was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). SPSS was used to conduct independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to investigate burnout status and identify factors affecting riders’ burnout.ResultsThe findings indicate that food delivery riders are experiencing moderate level of burnout, with Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Reduced Personal Accomplishment as the primary dimensions. In the context of algorithmic management, key factors affecting riders’ burnout include gender, age, working years, ranking system, Punishment system, work rules, Work monitoring mechanism, workflow design, customer feedback, and restaurant preparation time.ConclusionUnder algorithmic management, burnout is prevalent among China’s food delivery riders and influenced by multiple factors. Individualized support, humane organizational systems, satisfied work mechanism, and supportive social environment can help lessen algorithmic management’s negative effects on food delivery riders and reduce their burnout. This study provides theoretical recommendations to protect occupational health of gig workers in platform economy, and offers valuable guidance for practical application. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a24aa5f074964e8bab1eef92700a380c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-a24aa5f074964e8bab1eef92700a380c2025-08-20T02:26:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15315411531541Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery ridersJian Dong0Guoyong Zhang1Lizhi Wu2School of Grammar and Law, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Medical Management, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, ChinaSchool of Grammar and Law, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, ChinaBackgroundWith the rapid development of global digital economy, burnout among food delivery riders has become an important public health issue. Although burnout has been widely studied, research on burnout among food delivery riders, particularly the impact of algorithmic management on riders’ burnout remains limited. This study adopts a novel perspective on the intersection of algorithmic management and burnout, offering an in-depth examination of the burnout levels of food delivery riders under the strict control of algorithmic management and identifying its influencing factors.MethodsA survey of 953 food delivery riders was conducted using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). SPSS was used to conduct independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression to investigate burnout status and identify factors affecting riders’ burnout.ResultsThe findings indicate that food delivery riders are experiencing moderate level of burnout, with Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Reduced Personal Accomplishment as the primary dimensions. In the context of algorithmic management, key factors affecting riders’ burnout include gender, age, working years, ranking system, Punishment system, work rules, Work monitoring mechanism, workflow design, customer feedback, and restaurant preparation time.ConclusionUnder algorithmic management, burnout is prevalent among China’s food delivery riders and influenced by multiple factors. Individualized support, humane organizational systems, satisfied work mechanism, and supportive social environment can help lessen algorithmic management’s negative effects on food delivery riders and reduce their burnout. This study provides theoretical recommendations to protect occupational health of gig workers in platform economy, and offers valuable guidance for practical application.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1531541/fullalgorithmic managementfood delivery platformfood delivery ridersburnoutinfluencing factor |
| spellingShingle | Jian Dong Guoyong Zhang Lizhi Wu Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders Frontiers in Public Health algorithmic management food delivery platform food delivery riders burnout influencing factor |
| title | Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| title_full | Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| title_fullStr | Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| title_short | Life against algorithmic management: a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| title_sort | life against algorithmic management a study on burnout and its influencing factors among food delivery riders |
| topic | algorithmic management food delivery platform food delivery riders burnout influencing factor |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1531541/full |
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