Having a higher level of trust in others as well as institutions may boost subjective well-being.
Research published in Psychological Bulletin found that well-being and trust reinforce each other over time.
“We found that trust and subjective well-being go hand in hand. People who trust others or their institutions tend to feel happier and more satisfied with life. And it works both ways: feeling good about life can also help people trust more. This relationship is true for all ages, in different parts of the world, and across many different situations,” Catrin Finkenauer, PhD, co-author of the study and a professor at Utrecht University told Theravive.
“Subjective well-being is how people feel about their lives. It is about whether they feel happy, satisfied, or emotionally balanced. Subjective wellbeing is important because it affects our (mental) health, our relationships, our ability to cope with challenges, and even how long we live. When people feel well and experience higher wellbeing, they flourish.”
In undertaking the research, Finkenauer and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis that examined existing research. They looked at nearly 1000 studies that involved over 2.5 million participants between the ages of six to 84.
“This study aimed to bring everything researchers that have ever found about the link between trust and subjective wellbeing together to get a clear, big-picture view. It’s important because it helps us understand how trust shapes well-being throughout life — and that’s crucial for improving people’s everyday experiences,” Finkenauer said.
The studies examined three types of trust: interpersonal, institutional and generalized.
They found that those who trusted more typically felt happier and more satisfied than their peers who trusted others, institutions or society less.
“Trust helps people feel safe and supported. It allows us to build strong relationships, work together, and rely on each other. Whether it is trusting a friend, a teacher, or the government, it shapes how we interact with the world. The importance of institutional trust became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. People with lower institutional trust were more resistant to complying with public health guidelines (e.g., wearing masks, social distancing) and had much lower vaccination rates than people with higher trust. People with lower trust often turned to social media, conspiracy theories, or unverified information which led to more disinformation,” Finkenauer said.
“Generalized and interpersonal trust help us to connect with others. In communities with higher generalized or interpersonal trust, people tend to be more socially connected, with people more likely to help one another, volunteer, and participate in civic life. Our study shows that when people feel they can trust others and institutions, they tend to feel better overall, and when that trust is missing, wellbeing can suffer. It also shows that when people feel better overall, they trust more.”
She notes that trust and wellbeing can reinforce each other in a cyclical fashion, in that the more trust that is built the better people feel, and the better people feel, the more they trust.
The researchers hope further studies can investigate both how to build trust and how it might be repaired when it’s broken.
“Based on our findings, one of the most pressing challenges for the field is understanding how trust can be built; and perhaps even more critically, how it can be repaired when it has been broken. This is especially important for vulnerable populations, such as children, older adults, and people facing adversity, including those who have been forcibly displaced,” Finkenauer said.
“In today’s fast-paced and uncertain world, these questions matter more than ever. Philosopher Onora O’Neill reminds us that rather than trying to “ increase trust” we should focus on being trustworthy. Trust grows when people consistently demonstrate honesty, reliability, and competence. However, it also means being open about what we don’t know. This is important for us as scientists: To foster real trust, we must share our knowledge in clear, accessible, and transparent ways, so that people can understand, use, and verify it for themselves. Our research showed us that trust isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s a powerful force that shapes how people feel about their lives. In friendships, families, schools, workplaces, and communities, we should all strive to create trustworthy relationships and environments where people feel safe and that they can rely on others. Because when trust grows, well-being follows.”