Factors Affecting the Social Trust among the Youth (Case Study: Young People aged 15-29 in Hamadan)

Abstract

Social trust is one of the important factors of the social relations, the social order and also the social capital. It also possesses an effective role in the development of the society. Its increase and decrease will influence on the primary groups and institutions to the entire society. Social trust is influenced by various factors and variables. The change in these factors will change the extent of the social trust. Particularly, the issue becomes more important by the social changes and the isolation between the society and the traditional conditions. The study has been done aiming to measure the extent of social trust and its sub-branches among the young people of Hamadan and its effective and related important factors especially religiosity, social satisfaction, sense of security and sense of justice. The study has been done using the mixedtheoretical approach based on Putnam, Colman, Giddens theories and survey method using questionnaires with 385 subjects (based on Cochran formula). Data has been analyzed by SPSS and the model exam (structural equations) has been done by Amos. The results of the study indicated that the extent of the social trust among the young people is average. The most trust is interpersonal trust and the less extent of trust is in the public dimension. There is a positive, strong and significant correlation between the variables of the religiosity, the social satisfaction, sense of security, and sense of justice and the young people's social trust. Also, there is a negative and reverse relationship between education, family expenses, area of residence and the social trust. 59% of the young people's social trust changes have been explained by the mentioned variables.