The Impact of Social Distance on Ridesharing
(A2026-132957)

AUTHORS

Tim Euler, Hochschule RheinMain; Alina Diederichs, Hochschule Bielefeld; Barbara Seegebarth, Hochschule RheimMain; Tobias Schaefers, Hochschule Bielefeld; Tobias Heußler, Wiesbaden Business School

ABSTRACT

Ridesharing mandates novel forms of social interaction in confined spaces, making so-cial factors a critical driver of participation. However, research on these social factors is scarce, and the effect of social distance on ridesharing remains unexplored. This research addresses this critical gap. Findings from three studies (n=951) confirm that lower social distance increases ridesharing intention, and that trust and social interaction anxiety repre-sent the underlying mechanism for this effect. Further, the effect of social distance is contin-gent on trip duration but not on company cooperation. By identifying social distance as a core psychological lever influencing trust and anxiety, our results offer strategic insights for user matching, information display, and trust-building in shared mobility services.