Predictors of Generalized Trust

A Cross-Cultural Study of Canada, China, Taiwan, and the US

Bibliographic Data

ID21477375
AuthorsCatherine T Kwantes (0000-0002-7457-3018, University of Windsor, corresponding author), Ben C H Kuo (0000-0002-0493-4105, University of Windsor), Suzanne McMurphy (0000-0002-0538-9444, University of Windsor), J M Livingstone (University of Windsor), Jacob Livingstone (University of Windsor)
Year2025
Volume47
Issue6
Pages391-403
Publication date2025-11-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBasic and Applied Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0197-3533 • E-ISSN: 1532-4834
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01973533.2025.2529512
OpenAlexW4412611518
LanguageEN
References cited64

The ability of self-construals, tolerance for ambiguity and social cynicism to explain variations in generalized trust (individuals’ tendency to trust others), was explored in two individualistic, Canada and the USA, and two collectivistic, China and Taiwan, societies. The predictors accounted for a range of explained variance in generalized trust, from 31% in China to 10% in Canada. In the USA interdependent self-construal provided the greatest predictability of generalized trust, in Canada and China both interdependent and metapersonal self-construal provided predictability and in Taiwan metapersonal self-construal provided the most predictability. Social cynicism was negatively related to generalized trust in all countries. The results highlight the need to take the relationship between contextual and individual factors into account in understanding generalized trust

China · Cross-cultural · Political science · Sociology · Anthropology · Cultural Differences and Values · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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