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Is occupation insecurity associated with conspiracy views? A test of parallel mediation through political powerlessness and relative deprivation

Author

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  • Hans De Witte
  • Anahí Van Hootegem
  • Lara C. Roll

Abstract

We examine the association of a novel form of insecurity (occupation insecurity) with three societal attitudes: the belief in conspiracy views, political powerlessness and relative deprivation. This answers the call in the literature to extend studies on work-related insecurity by broadening its conceptualization and extending its associations with a broader set of outcomes. Next, we explore whether the association between occupation insecurity and conspiracy views is mediated by both societal attitudes: political powerlessness and relative deprivation. The study took place during the Covid crisis in 2020. Consequently, all variables were framed in the context of this crisis. Cross-sectional data gathered via an online survey among 1324 employed wage and salary earners in Flanders (Belgium) are used to test the hypotheses. The data were analysed using the PROCESS macro, testing for parallel mediation. All direct effect hypotheses were corroborated by the analyses. The indirect effect of occupation insecurity on conspiracy views was only significant for political powerlessness, and not for relative deprivation, suggesting political powerlessness to be a more important explanatory variable than relative deprivation. The findings suggest occupation insecurity to have important societal and political correlates. Some suggestions to reduce the negative outcomes of occupation insecurity are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans De Witte & Anahí Van Hootegem & Lara C. Roll, 2025. "Is occupation insecurity associated with conspiracy views? A test of parallel mediation through political powerlessness and relative deprivation," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(3), pages 714-741, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:46:y:2025:i:3:p:714-741
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X251347770
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Wroe, 2014. "Political trust and job insecurity in 18 European polities," Journal of Trust Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 90-112, October.
    2. Ilse Laurijssen & Bram Spruyt, 2015. "Not for People Like Us? A Six-Year Panel Study of the Mutual Relationship Between Feelings of Relative Deprivation and Occupational Status Among Young Adults in Flanders," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 124(2), pages 617-635, November.
    3. Mindy Shoss & Anahí Van Hootegem & Eva Selenko & Hans De Witte, 2023. "The job insecurity of others: On the role of perceived national job insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(2), pages 385-409, May.
    4. Frey, Carl Benedikt & Osborne, Michael A., 2017. "The future of employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerisation?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 254-280.
    5. Magnus Sverke & Lena Låstad & Johnny Hellgren & Anne Richter & Katharina Näswall, 2019. "A Meta-Analysis of Job Insecurity and Employee Performance: Testing Temporal Aspects, Rating Source, Welfare Regime, and Union Density as Moderators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.
    6. Lara C. Roll & Hans De Witte & Hai-Jiang Wang, 2023. "Conceptualization and Validation of the Occupation Insecurity Scale (OCIS): Measuring Employees’ Occupation Insecurity Due to Automation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-26, January.
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