Supervisor undermining and driving errors in truck drivers: A moderated mediation model

- This study used a moderated mediation model to verify the impact of supervisor undermining on driving errors.
- We also tested the mediating role of burnout and the moderating role of self-efficacy.
- Burnout partially mediates the relation between supervisor undermining and driving errors.
- Self-efficacy moderates both direct relations specified in our model.
- The indirect effect of undermining on errors was significant only when self-efficacy was low.

The present study focuses on the detrimental impact of supervisor undermining behaviors at work on driving errors for truck drivers, arguing for the mediating role of burnout. Moreover, this research highlights the moderating role of general self-efficacy in the relationships between supervisor undermining and burnout, and between burnout and driving errors, respectively. The data collected from a sample of 190 Romanian drivers supported a moderated mediation model in which burnout partially mediates the relation between supervisor undermining and driving errors, while self-efficacy moderates both aforementioned relationships. The conditional indirect effect of supervisor undermining on driving errors was significant when self-efficacy was low and non-significant when self-efficacy was high. Overall, our results emphasize the negative impact that supervisor undermining and burnout have on driving errors, while also highlighting the buffering effect of self-efficacy.