Information privacy, gender differences, and intrinsic motivation in the workplace

•We examine the relationships between information privacy, gender differences, and intrinsic motivation.•Information privacy can be defined as perceived control of information gathering (PCIG) and handling (PCIH).•Both PCIG and PCIH had positive impacts upon intrinsic motivation, and the impact of PCIG was completely mediated by PCIH.•The mediation process produced a stronger effect on intrinsic motivation for male employees than for female employees.•The positive relationship between PCIG and PCIH was stronger for female employees than for male employees.

We develop and test a model that examines the relationships between information privacy, gender differences, and intrinsic motivation. Information privacy can be defined as perceived control of information gathering (i.e., PCIG) and perceived control of information handling (i.e., PCIH). We surveyed 320 Chinese employees from various organizations and found that both PCIG and PCIH had positive effects upon intrinsic motivation. We found, however, that the impact of PCIG was completely mediated by PCIH and that the mediation process produced a stronger effect on intrinsic motivation for male employees than for female employees. In addition, the positive relationship between PCIG and PCIH was stronger for female employees than for male employees.