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The Association Between Generalized Trust and Physical and Psychological Health Across Societies

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  • Takeshi Hamamura

    (Curtin University)

  • Liman Man Wai Li

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Derwin Chan

    (University of Hong Kong)

Abstract

Prior research found that physical and psychological health are positively associated with generalized trust of others. This association is known to vary across societies, though the extent of this variation and its source remains poorly understood. The current research examined whether differences in development across societies describe why the effects of trust on health differ across societies. Drawing on the dataset from the World Values Survey, we found that the participants’ generalized trust was associated with their physical health, happiness, and life satisfaction. Multi-level analysis showed that these associations varied substantially across societies. For physical health and happiness, the variation was related to differences in societal development. Generalized trust was more strongly associated with physical health and happiness in developed societies than in developing societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Takeshi Hamamura & Liman Man Wai Li & Derwin Chan, 2017. "The Association Between Generalized Trust and Physical and Psychological Health Across Societies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(1), pages 277-286, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:134:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-016-1428-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-016-1428-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel D. Schnitzlein, 2019. "The relationship between trust, cognitive skills, and democracy - Evidence from 30 countries around the world," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(1), pages 200-206.
    2. Nabamita Dutta & Lisa Giddings & Russell S. Sobel, 2022. "Does Trust Always Help Gender Role Attitudes? The Role of Individualism and Collectivism," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 379-408, January.
    3. Gerald E. Ezirim & Peter O. Mbah & Ejikeme J. Nwagwu & Ikechukwu Charles Eze & George C. Nche & JohnBosco C. Chukwuorji, 2021. "Trust and Trustworthiness in a Sub-Saharan African Sample: Contributions of Personality and Religiosity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 1087-1107, February.
    4. Naoki Akaeda, 2021. "Welfare States and the Health Impact of Social Capital: Focusing on the Crowding-Out and Crowding-In Perspectives," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 841-862, October.
    5. Immacolata Di Napoli & Pasquale Dolce & Caterina Arcidiacono, 2019. "Community Trust: A Social Indicator Related to Community Engagement," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(2), pages 551-579, September.
    6. Zhang, Robert Jiqi, 2020. "Social trust and satisfaction with life: A cross-lagged panel analysis based on representative samples from 18 societies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    7. Liman Man Wai Li & Vivian Miu-Chi Lun & Michael Harris Bond & June Chun Yeung & Eric Raymond Igou & Brian W. Haas & Stanislava Stoyanova & Fridanna Maricchiolo & John M. Zelenski & Christin-Melanie Va, 2024. "The Role of Cultural Heterogeneity in Strengthening the Link Between Family Relationships and Life Satisfaction in 50 Societies," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 1-25, August.
    8. Lei Wu & Chuanjian Li & Yang Gao, 2022. "Regional agricultural cooperatives and subjective wellbeing of rural households in China," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(S2), pages 138-158, November.

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