When Confidence in Institutions Backfires: Power-Distance Orientation Moderates the Relationship Between Institutional Trust and Civic Honesty Across Eight Countries

Confidence in institutions is a key predictor of civic honesty, yet evidence shows that this relationship varies across contexts and individuals. This study examined whether power-distance orientation (PDO)—the extent to which individuals accept hierarchical power relations—moderates this association. High-PDO individuals tend to view institutional authorities as entitled to privilege, inclined to engage in patronage relationships and potentially corrupt. We hypothesised that for individuals high in PDO, confidence in institutions could backfire and be linked to the rejection of civic honesty. Using data from 2088 participants across eight countries, we found support for this hypothesis. Specifically, the positive link between institutional confidence and civic honesty was reversed among those who strongly endorse PDO. These findings suggest that individual-level variation in the link between confidence in institutions and civic honesty partly reflects broader beliefs about authorities. We discuss implications of this interaction and outline directions for future research.