TITLE:
Leadership and Trust in Higher Education: The Role of ACE Scores and Supervisor Gender in Women’s Experiences
AUTHORS:
Kristina Judith Szilak
KEYWORDS:
Workplace Trust, Supervisor Relationships, Internalized Oppression, Higher Education, ACE Scores
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Leadership,
Vol.13 No.4,
October
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: Utilizing a correlative quantitative approach, this study explored the relationships between trust in leadership, supervisor gender, and Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) scores. An anonymous, online survey was administered to 76 female participants currently working in higher education. The results indicate neutral attitudes toward supervisors, with average trust scores hovering around the midpoint. However, further analysis revealed variations based on ACE scores and supervisor gender. Women without ACEs reported lower trust in male supervisors, while those with higher ACE scores had negative perceptions of female supervisors, particularly regarding consistency and transparency. These findings suggest that trust in supervisor relationships is influenced by both the personal histories of employees and the gender dynamics within the workplace. The study’s implications point to the need for future research to explore the influence of ACE scores and supervisor gender on trust, and to develop strategies for enhancing trust and effective leadership in higher education settings, especially among female supervisors and female employees with higher ACE scores.