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Institutional Trust, Spirituality, and Religious Practice in the United States

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  • Adam Gemar

    (Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus)

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between institutional trust and elements of religion in contemporary American society. Using a nationally representative survey, we utilize latent class and regression analyses to assess the contours of these relationships. Our findings reveal a diverse institutional trust profile, with pronounced distrust in democratic institutions, especially Congress, although the group with low institutional trust is the smallest one within the society. While trust in religious institutions, and to an extent broader institutional trust, predict religiosity, this is less so with the case of spirituality. Institutional trust similarly shows modest positive relationships to public religious practice, while a clear negative relationship to private religious practice. Interpreting these findings through the lens of secularization and privatization of religion, we hope to provide a strong empirical contribution to the literature regarding intersections of institutional trust and the evolving religious and spiritual orientations of today’s American landscape.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Gemar, 2024. "Institutional Trust, Spirituality, and Religious Practice in the United States," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2024:i:1:p:67-:d:1324000
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Putnam, Robert David & Lim, Chaeyoon & MacGregor, Carol Ann, 2010. "Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity among Religious Nones," Scholarly Articles 5341589, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    2. Lim, Chaeyoon & Putnam, Robert David, 2010. "Religion, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction," Scholarly Articles 11105537, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
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