Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relations Among Children's Trust Beliefs, Psychological Maladjustment and Social Relationships: Are Very High as Well as Very Low Trusting Children at Risk?

Abstract

Four hundred and thirty-four children enrolled in school years 5 and 6 in the United Kingdom were administered measures of trust beliefs in peers/best friends and psychosocial functioning (internalized maladjustment, self-perceived social acceptance, social preference, and social exclusion) across an 8-month period (mean age = 9 years-9 months at Time 1). The relation between children's trust beliefs in peers or trust beliefs within best friend dyads and measures of psychosocial functioning conformed to a quadratic pattern. Compared to children in the middle range of trust beliefs, children with very low trust beliefs and those with very high trust beliefs in peers and/or within best friend dyads displayed higher internalized maladjustment, lower self-perceived social acceptance, higher social exclusion, and lower social preference. The relation between the trust beliefs and internalized maladjustment was asymmetrical, with children who held very low trust beliefs being comparatively more disadvantaged.

Trusting Trust in the Context of Higher Education: The Potential Limits of the Trust Concept

“…Similarly, in terms of quantity of trust, Goel et al (2005) delineate possible antecedents of overtrust and propose a number of conditions in which excessive trusting might develop regarding the specific characteristics of the trustee, trustor and social environment. In the area of interpersonal relations, Rotenberg et al (2005) argue that children whose levels of trust are too high may be particularly vulnerable to betrayal by their peers, which, in turn, affects the nature of social bonds within the larger peer group. In sum, it is evident that a growing number of theorists have drawn attention towards issues of the 'dangers' and 'dark sides' of trust.…”

“…Moreover, it seems that the relationship between trust levels and expected positive outcomes is also moderated by micro and macro levels of analysis. In other words, the idea that 'trust is good and we need more of it' is particularly evident in theories focusing on interpersonal relations (for example, psychologically charged work such as Rotter, 1971;Imber, 1973;Erikson, 1995; but for contrasting exceptions, see also Rotenberg et al, 2005), comparing a macro-analysis of trust with a focus on systems and structures in society (for example, sociologically charged works such as Luhmann, 1979;Sztompka, 1999;Hardin, 2006).…”

The Early Childhood Generalized Trust Belief Scale

“…Similarly, Rotenberg, Boulton, and Fox (2005) reported a modest negative linear association between trust in peers and internalized maladjustment in their longitudinal study of 9-to 11-year-olds. The linear relationship was qualified by a quadratic pattern: children with very low or very high trust showed greater internalized maladjustment than expected in a linear relationship and also greater maladjustment than children with midrange trust.…”

“…Empirically, the Young Children's Generalized Trust 4 importance of trust has been evidenced through the significant relationships found between trust and psychosocial adjustment in adults (Barefoot, Maynard, Beckham, Brummett, & Siegler, 1998;Fletcher, Simpson, Thomas, & Giles, 1999;Rotter, 1980) and, to a lesser extent, in children (Imber, 1973;Rotenberg, Boulton, & Fox, 2005). For example, Imber (1973) reported linear relationships between older children's generalized trust and academic performance: children with high trust in fathers and teachers performed better academically.…”

“…Further, this pattern was asymmetric: children with very high trust were less disadvantaged than children with very low trust. To explain these findings, Rotenberg, Boulton et al (2005) proposed that extreme trust violated the peer norms of trust which resulted in peer rejection and elevated levels of internalized maladjustment. Specifically, children with very low trust adopt a cynical approach towards their peers and believe that their peers will not keep promises or secrets.…”