Who Keeps Going? Predictors of Trait Hope in Filipino Food Delivery Riders

The swift growth of the gig economy has positioned food delivery riders in demanding work settings marked by physical hazards and unstable earnings, while the psychological capacities that help them endure remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated whether demographic variables such as age and marital status, Big Five personality dimensions, and perceived social support could predict trait hope among food delivery riders in Quezon City, Philippines. Employing a predictive correlational design, 150 male riders were purposively recruited. Data were gathered through the IPIP-50, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Snyder’s Adult Hope Scale. Results from hierarchical regression indicated that demographic characteristics in the first model did not significantly account for variations in hope. When personality traits were introduced in the second model, they explained a significant 28.1% of the variance, with conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience identified as strong predictors. Perceived social support, however, did not contribute additional explanatory power beyond these internal attributes. The findings indicate that among gig workers, hope appears to stem largely from internal regulation, discipline, and goal orientation rather than from external social resources. The study broadens the application of hope theory within precarious employment contexts and underscores the value of strengthening internal psychological capacities to enhance resilience in platform-based work.