Leader trust behaviours as predictors of functional outcomes in infantry soldiers

Background Organizational trust has been examined as an expectation that leaders will follow through with promises and act consistently with expectations. Most of this research has involved employee samples in traditional low-risk occupations. Aims To examine leader trust behaviours as predictors of multiple indices of functioning, including depression symptoms, symptoms of alcohol misuse, perceived mission readiness and flourishing, in the high-risk occupation of the military. Methods Assessed a large cross-sectional sample of infantry soldiers (N = 6384) in garrison who provided responses to a survey assessment. Leader trust behaviours were assessed as the primary predictor. Depression symptoms, alcohol misuse symptoms, perceived mission readiness and flourishing were assessed as outcomes. Ordinary least squares multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relationships between the predictor and outcome variables. Results The linear regressions revealed that after controlling for covariates, leader trust behaviours predicted fewer depression symptoms (B = −0.16, P < 0.001, 95% CI = −0.19 to −0.13), higher perceived mission readiness (B = 0.39, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.34) and higher flourishing (B = 0.28, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.24 to 0.32). Leader trust behaviours did not significantly predict alcohol misuse symptoms. Conclusions Leader trust behaviours emerged as a predictor of multiple indices of functioning in the high-risk occupation of infantry soldiers, even after controlling for general leadership and workplace stressors. Leader development focused on the importance of establishing trust in subordinates through specific behaviours could improve outcomes for employees in high-risk occupations.