Trust as a Factor of Subjective Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This paper analyses the relation between trust as the element of social capital and individual subjective life satisfaction. It answers the question of whether trustful people are happier than suspicious people. Using the concept of social capital, we consider three main types of trust: general, institutional and social. The article estimates the level of trust in Russia using data from value research in two federal districts in Russia. This research was conducted by the Centre for Comparative Social Research in summer 2012. The main hypothesis, that there a positive relationship between the level of trust and subjective life satisfaction, was tested using the method of structural equation modelling. JEL Classification: Z.

The effect of self-rated health, subjective socioeconomic status, social capital, and physical activity on life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study in urban western Iran

“…Mironova (2015) assessed the relationship between different types of trust (institutional, public, and social) with LS, according to which structural equation model showed that social trust had the most direct effect on LS [49], consistent with the present study. Trust is the heart of social and political stability in society and is important for the health and interpersonal relationships, so that the decline of trust in any society is a major constraint on social economic development [49]. Trust is a major factor in social well-being and one of the most important indicators of social well-being, and assessment of individuals' mental life satisfaction.…”

The importance of social trust for the prediction of well-being of Lithuanians and Lithuanian emigrants

“…The relationship between social trust and well-being is a relatively new topic in scientific literature. Nevertheless, over the past decade, social trust has been confirmed to be one of the most important positive correlates of well-being in different populations and contexts (Agampodi, Agampodi, Glozier, & Siribaddana, 2015;Algan & Cahuc, 2013;Hamilton, Helliwell, & Woolcock, 2016;Helliwell, Huang, & Wang, 2014, 2016bHelliwell & Putnam, 2004;Helliwell & Wang, 2011;Hudson, 2006;Lucchini, Bella, & Crivelli, 2015;Mironova, 2015;Portela, Neira, & del Mar Salinas-Jiménez, 2013;Rodríguez-Pose & von Berlepsch, 2014), sometimes even more important than economic or financial wealth (Algan & Cahuc, 2013;Helliwell et al, 2016b;Helliwell & Wang, 2011;Ram, 2010). Moreover, colleagues (2011, 2014) as well as Rodríguez-Pose and von Berlepsch (2014) concluded that high social trust determines the rise in well-being at both individual and national levels, but not vice versa.…”

“…As social trust is a two-dimensional phenomenon that encompasses general trust in the people of the society where one lives and trust in various governmental, political or public institutions of the country (Helliwell et al, 2016b(Helliwell et al, , 2016cMironova, 2015;Portela et al, 2013;Sarracino, 2017, 21, 71-92 p. The Importance of Social Trust for the prediction of Well-Being of Lithuanians and Lithuanian Emigrants 2010), usually post-soviet societies are described as less trusting both in people and local institutions (Algan & Cahuc, 2013;Bjørnskov, 2007;Mironova, 2015). The repressive communist regime in these countries ruined the fundamental organization of the society and later high rates of corruption, unstable development of economy and different societal transitions increased inequalities and continued disrupting peoples' trust in each other and their new governments after the regime collapsed (Bjørnskov, 2007;Woolfson, 2010).…”

“…Algan & Cahuc, 2013;Frank et al, 2016;Helliwell, et al, 2014;2016b;Helliwell & Putnam, 2004;Hudson, 2006;Mota, Pereira, 2008;Nowok et al, 2013;Ram, 2010;Stillman et al, 2015), satisfaction with life (e.g. Elgar et al, 2011;Frank et al, 2016;Helliwell et al, 2016aHelliwell et al, , 2016bIvlevs, 2015;Lucchini et al, 2015;Mara & Landesmann, 2013;Mironova, 2015;Mota & Pereira, 2008;Ram, 2010), subjective well-being (e.g. Helliwell et al, 2016a;Nowok et al, 2013;Stillman et al, 2015;Yip et al, 2007) and sometimes even mental health (e.g.…”