Artificial Intelligence Anxiety and Employee Job Insecurity: The Mediating Role of Perceived Organizational Support

Abstract

The rapid spread of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology throughout workplaces has made many employees anxious about losing their jobs due to automation. Using Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory and Organizational Support Theory (OST), this study, which follows a quantitative approach, analyzes the impact of AI Anxiety (AIA) on Employee Job Insecurity (EJI) and the mediation role of Perceived Organizational Support (POS). An online questionnaire was developed and shared with 300 employees of different sectors, and the used items were verified through psychometrics. The analysis was carried out through hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analysis with a sample of n = 5,000 (bootstrap). The results showed that AI Anxiety positively and significantly predicted Employee Job Insecurity (β = .541, p < .001). Perceived Organizational Support was a full mediator of the AIA–EJI relationship, and mediation analysis showed a significant and substantive mediation effect of POS (indirect β = .219; 95% CI [.148, .301]). The direct effect of AIA on EJI was significant and substantially decreased after controlling for POS (β = .302, p < .001; Partial mediation). Findings reflect that organizational support is important for reducing job insecurity and the effects of AI-induced anxiety. The study offers recommendations for organizational stakeholders and HR practitioners and suggests future areas of research.