Leadership and Behavioral Integrity in the Restaurant Industry: the Moderating Roles of Gender

This study examined the effect of follower’s gender on the relationship between leaders’ enacted behavioral integrity (objective manipulation), follower’s perception of leaders’ behavioral integrity (subjective behavioral integrity), and subsequent trust in the leader. It is proposed that female followers are more sensitive to and have stronger trust reactions to leaders’ behavioral integrity. Data was collected from 257 supervisors working in the restaurant industry using a scenario experiment. Results indicated that females have a stronger perception of the leaders’ behavioral integrity relationship and a stronger trust in the leader than their male counterpart. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings were discussed