A relationship between Work-Related Factors, Job Stress and job performance among App-Based Food Delivery Executives in India

Abstract

The emergence and expansion of app-based food delivery services have rapidly transformed the structure and operation of the gig economy and its workers, particularly in developing countries such as India. While these platforms provide alternative forms of income through flexibility associated with gig work, evidence is mounting that delivery work leads to greater job stress levels due to the unpredictability associated with gig employment and the algorithmic-based management processes used. The present article provides a systematic review of the existing literature concerning the factors contributing to job stress for app-based food delivery workers in India. The research was carried out using a systematic review method as prescribed in PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and 5 primary academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, Taylor and Francis) were utilized. Following a rigorous screening process to determine the studies' eligibility, 65 studies were identified as suitable for qualitative synthesis based on being peer-reviewed and published during the years 2015-2025. The resulting findings yield four primary sources of workplace stress: (a) excessive workloads, (b) algorithmically imposed time pressure, (c) unpredictable income, and (d) an unsafe working environment. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JDR) model and precarious employment theory, the review highlights that job-related stress associated with app-based food delivery work occurs largely due to algorithmic governance and precarious employment rather than an individual issue. This research contributes to the body of knowledge surrounding gig work and occupational health by providing an overarching summary of workplace stressors in app-based food delivery and emphasises the requirement for policy reform and platform-level interventions to better support the well-being of the workers involved in app-based food delivery in India.