Work

Generalized trust as a foundation for online trust: findings from Austria, Greece, Poland, the Philippines, and South Africa

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In this paper, we examine the relationship between generalized trust and online trust to assess whether the latter is a distinct phenomenon or an extension of the former. For this purpose, we provide an overview of different approaches developed to explain trust and discuss their applicability to online trust. Our analysis is based on a nationally representative sample of Austrians aged 16 or older, collected as part of the latest International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) survey on "Digital Societies," as well as pretest data for this survey from Austria, Greece, Poland, the Philippines, and South Africa. Regression models considering indicators associated with a wide range of different approaches show that generalized trust is the strongest predictor of online trust. Hence, our findings suggest that online trust is not an independent concept but an extension of generalized trust, supporting the initial notion of generalized trust as a concept that goes beyond personal relationships, now also into the digital world.

Source: Frontiers in Sociology

DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1504812

Authors: Markus Hadler, Boštjan Vrečar, Rebecca Schaffer

Institution: University of Graz

Language: English

Topic: Privacy, Security, and Data Protection

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,418

Funders: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung