Constructs of Trust in Close Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

While most would agree that trust is an essential element of healthy relationships and families, there is widespread disagreement regarding the most important aspects of trust. Researchers disagree about the definitions of this very important aspect of relationship and few studies have specifically explored trust as it relates to our close interpersonal relationships. In addition, most studies on this important issue are conducted with convenience samples of undergraduate college students. This study attempted to address the convenience sample issue by recruiting a large sample with a broader range of age, marital status, time in relationship, socioeconomic status, education, and ethnicity. Also, with improved technology, a larger sample was obtained through the use of the Internet. The resulting 605 participants represented undergraduate psychology courses, graduate students, a large representation of older, non-traditional students, as well as retired persons with long-term relationships. Participants were either presented pencil and paper surveys to complete or on line surveys as well as demographic data and several rankings of the importance they placed on relationship trust, level of relationship trust, mutuality, and satisfaction. Duplication of previous research emerged with three factors of trust from The Trust Scale which were Faith, Dependability, and Predictability. When another survey, The Relationship Confidence Scale was added, another factor emerged and was named Additional results revealed strong correlations between subjects' scores and Total Trust. This study explored the constructs that are most closely correlated to trust and then extended the study to examine the relationships between those constructs and anxious, avoidant, and secure attachment styles. Significant results at the .001 level were found in the associations between total trust and the constructs of Faith, Dependability, Predictability, and Benevolence. The constructs of Faith, Dependability, and Benevolence were found to be significant predictors of Total Trust. Additionally, Total Trust was significantly associated with Secure Attachment style, significantly and negatively correlated with Avoidant attachment style but not significantly associated with Anxious Attachment Style. There was not a significant relationship between education level and trust. Together, the four constructs accounted for more variance in Total Trust than in attachment style and Faith accounted for most of the unique variance in Total Trust. The implications for use of these results in therapeutic relationships, couple and family counseling are also discussed.