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Gender, individualism–collectivism and individuals’ propensity to trust: A comparative exploratory study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2017

Rachid Zeffane
Rachid Zeffane*
Affiliation:
Department of Management, College of Business Administration, University of Sharjah, UAE
*
Corresponding author: zeffaner@sharjah.ac.ae
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Abstract

We explore the impact of gender, individualism–collectivism on individual’s propensity to trust. The study draws on data from three groups of individuals in the United Arab Emirates: students; (n=370); small business owners/operators (n=324), and employed individuals (n=376). Three main hypotheses are tested. We develop and explore three main hypotheses. Statistical results reveal that females are generally more collectivist and less trusting than their males counterparts. Further analysis revealed that small business/operators are generally more trusting than the other cohorts of respondents. Propensity to trust was also found to be strongly associated with collectivist (rather than individualist) aspirations. Implications for future research and management practice are discussed.

Keywords

propensity to trustindividualismcollectivismgenderwork experienceUnited Arab Emirates
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , July 2020 , pp. 445 - 459
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2017

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