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Interpersonal Trust and Quality-of-Life: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Author

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  • Yasuharu Tokuda
  • Masamine Jimba
  • Haruo Yanai
  • Seiji Fujii
  • Takashi Inoguchi

Abstract

Background: There is growing interest in psychosocial factors with positive attitudes, such as interpersonal trust, as determinants for Quality-of-life (QOL) or subjective well-being. Despite their longevity, Japanese people report a relatively poor subjective well-being, as well as lower interpersonal trust. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the possible association between interpersonal trust and QOL among Japanese people. Methodology and Principal Findings: Based on the cross-sectional data for Japanese adults (2008), we analyzed the relationship between interpersonal trust and each of four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Interpersonal trust was assessed using three scales for trust in people, in human fairness and in human nature. In a total of 1000 participants (mean age: 45 years; 49% women), greater trust was recognized among women (vs. men), those aged 60–69 (vs. 20–29), or the high-income group (vs. low-income). Each of three trust scales was positively correlated with all domains of QOL. Multiple linear-regression models were constructed for each of QOL and the principal component score of the trust scales, adjusted for age, gender, area size of residence, income, education, and occupation. For all QOL domains, interpersonal trust was significantly and positively associated with better QOL with p

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuharu Tokuda & Masamine Jimba & Haruo Yanai & Seiji Fujii & Takashi Inoguchi, 2008. "Interpersonal Trust and Quality-of-Life: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(12), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0003985
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003985
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Sciences Po Economics Publications (main) hal-03596480, HAL.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Working Papers hal-03596480, HAL.
    2. František Murgaš & František Petrovič & Anna Tirpáková, 2022. "Social Capital as a Predictor of Quality of Life: The Czech Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    3. Imad Maatouk & Beate Wild & Daniela Wesche & Wolfgang Herzog & Elke Raum & Heiko Müller & Dietrich Rothenbacher & Christa Stegmaier & Dieter Schellberg & Hermann Brenner, 2012. "Temporal Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly People with Diabetes: Results of a German Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, January.
    4. Lu Li & Jiyu Zhang & Xiaoxi He & Feng Hu & Xiangping Liu & Long Huang & Hairong Liu, 2023. "Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy and Prosocial Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, February.
    5. Seungil Yum, 2026. "The determinants of the quality of life across the world," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 1661-1677, February.
    6. Asiyeh Salehi & Neil Harris & Elisabeth Coyne & Bernadette Sebar, 2015. "Trust and quality of life: A cross-sectional study of young women," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(5), pages 506-514, August.
    7. Ying Liang, 2016. "Trust in Chinese Government and Quality of Life (QOL) of Sichuan Earthquake Survivors: Does Trust in Government Help to Promote QOL?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 541-564, June.
    8. Yuan, Yaqi & Yeo, Shun Yuan & Lee, Kristen Schultz, 2024. "Different roles of interpersonal trust and institutional trust in motivating older adults to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Singapore," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    9. Haixia Wang & Xiqian Zou & Kaisheng Lai & Weiping Luo & Lingnan He, 2021. "Does Quality of Life Act as a Protective Factor against Believing Health Rumors? Evidence from a National Cross-Sectional Survey in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, April.
    10. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/h44c7ona088fb5o9b5dq3nt9u is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Jing Wang & Wenjing Jin & Liping Shi & Yaoguo Geng & Xueli Zhu & Wanying Hu, 2022. "Health-Related Quality of Life in Children: The Roles of Age, Gender and Interpersonal Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    12. Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Sciences Po publications 89, Sciences Po.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," SciencePo Working papers hal-03596480, HAL.
      • Fabrice Murtin & Lara Fleischer & Vincent Siegerink & Arnstein Aassve & Yann Algan & Romina Boarini & Santiago Gonzalez & Zsuzsanna Lonti & Ulrich Schmidt & Gianluca Grimalda & Rafael Hortala Vallve &, 2018. "Trust and its determinants," Working Papers hal-03596480, HAL.

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