Bonding social capital and political trust: The mediating role of trust in public figures in Taiwan

This study not only assesses whether horizontal and vertical forms of BSC relate to political trust, but also analyzes how they influence political trust through trust in public figures after considering other theoretically crucial factors. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze data from a representative sample in Taiwan. The results reveal that horizontal BSC is negatively related to political trust, whereas citizens who have relatives and friends in political power have a high level of political trust. Trust in public figures mediates the association between two kinds of BSC and political confidence. This study provides evidence confirming political confidence is shaped by how respondents perceive their government's sense of responsibility and responsiveness, as well as affected by vertical bonding ties in a given context.
Source: The Social Science Journal - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research