I Trust You: Does This Matter in the Relationship between Sexual Harassment, Continuous Commitment and Intention to Leave among Young Female Healthcare Professionals?

This research examines the direct influence of sexual harassment by superiors on subordinates' young female trust in their superiors. The research also examines the mediating role of trust in the relationship between sexual harassment and continuous commitment as well as intention to leave. For this purpose, a pre-tested questionnaire survey was self-dropped and collected by the research team to young female professionals, who are in their early career (within five years of their career), in public hospitals in the cities of Tunis, Sfax and Sousse, Tunisia. The results were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. The results of structural model, interestingly, showed no significant effect of sexual harassment by superiors on their subordinates' trust. Hence, trust in superiors has no mediating role in the relationship between sexual harassment and continuous commitment as well as intention to leave. However, sexual harassment by superiors was found to directly and positively influence young female professionals' intention to leave the job. Additionally, trust in superiors was found to negatively influence both young female professionals' continuous commitment and their intention to leave. The results have certain theoretical and managerial implications, particularly in relation to young female professional in the healthcare sector, which is vital for Tunisia and every country.