High Trust Research Articles

Trust in provider and stigma during second-trimester abortion

ObjectiveTo determine whether trust in the provider and sociodemographics are associated with individual-level abortion stigma. MethodsWe performed a cross sectional and exploratory study design using secondary analysis of a randomized trial that enrolled participants undergoing second trimester abortion. We collected baseline survey data from 70 trial participants to assess stigma (Individual Level of Abortion Stigma scale, ILAS; range 0–4), trust in provider (Trust in Physician scale; range 1–5), anxiety, depression, and sociodemographics. We performed multiple linear regression, for which ILAS score was the outcome of interest. Univariate associations were used to inform the regression model. ResultsThe mean abortion stigma score was at the low end of the ILAS at 1.21 (range 0.2–2.8, SD 0.66). Age, race, income, BMI, parity, gestational age at time of abortion, and reasons for ending the pregnancy were not significantly associated with the ILAS score. Higher trust in provider scores were (m 4.0, SD 0.49) and inversely related to the ILAS score, even after adjustment for confounders (β −0.02, CI −0.03 to −0.004, p = 0.013). Screening positive for anxiety or depression was associated with a higher ILAS score ((β 0.48, CI 0.10, 0.90, p = 0.015); (β = 0.27 CI −0.097, 0.643)), while cohabitation was associated with lower ILAS score (β −0.44, CI −0.82 to −0.57, p = 0.025). ConclusionsTrust in an abortion provider, anxiety, depression, and cohabitation are associated with abortion stigma among people seeking second trimester abortion care. Interventions that improve trust in a provider may be an area of focus for addressing abortion stigma. Future research should confirm these findings in larger populations and across diverse locations and demographics and to conduct qualitative research to understand what patients perceive as trust-promoting behaviors and words during abortion encounters.

Untangling the association between COVID-19 health literacy, trust in the pandemic response, and mental distress, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland: a repeated cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rates of mental distress is well described. However, the contribution of poor health literacy and low levels of trust in state institutions to mental distress is less well defined. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 health literacy and trust in the pandemic response (Trust) on mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. MethodsWe did this nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adult Irish residents during three study periods: from May 26 to June 17, 2020 (n=947); from July 1 to July 23, 2020 (n=995); and from Sept 5 to Sept 28, 2020 (n=972). Participants were contacted using random-digit-dialling and interviewed by a professional market research organisation (Ipsos MRBI’ about 80% via mobile phone, 20% via landline). Mental distress was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS), for which a score of 10 or higher indicated mental distress. Heath literacy and trust were each assessed with three questions, which defined three categories: low, moderate, and high (appendix). Descriptive analysis and multivariate (MVA) Poisson regression were conducted in STATA17, Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR) are reported. Findings2914 participants completed the survey across three study periods (median age 46 years, 1510 [51·8%] women, 1401 [48·1%] men, three [0·1%] non-binary). 804 (27·6%) of 2914 participants experienced mental distress (n=804). More women experienced mental distress than men (508 [34%] of women vs 294 [21%] of men). Mental distress was inversely associated with age (from 43% in those aged <30 years [n=232/539] to 19% in those aged >70 years [n=66/349]). Most participants had high health literacy (n=2,530, 86·8%). While health literacy was positively and significantly associated with trust, it was not associated with mental distress and it was therefore excluded from the MVA. Level of trust was captured for 2693 adults; 42·2% participants reported low trust (n=457) or moderate trust (n=679). The prevalence of mental distress was inversely associated with trust; increasing from 24% in those with high trust (n=374/1557), 30% in those with moderate trust (n=202/679), to 36% in those with low trust (n=166/457). In MVA higher rates of mental distress were associated with low trust (IRR 1·45, 95% CI 1·20–1·75; p=0·000) and moderate trust (IRR 1·24, 1·04–1·47, p=0·016) compared with high trust when adjusted for age, sex, employment status, and income,. InterpretationIn Ireland, low levels of trust in the COVID-19 pandemic response were associated with higher levels of mental distress. Although poor health literacy was associated with low levels of trust, it was not independently associated with mental distress. Inference on the nature and direction of causal effects must be cautious given the cross-sectional study design. FundingHealth Research Board.

Father-son sex communication in Australian adolescent males

ABSTRACT Little is known about the effect of father-son communication on sexual health knowledge and potential sexual health outcomes in young men. We investigated the confidence and trust that adolescent Australian males have in their fathers and whether this contributes to the use of their father as a source of sexual health information. Data analysis explored differences in confidence, trust, and use of fathers as a source of sexual health information among male, female, and trans- and gender-diverse participants. Male participants were more confident seeking sexual health advice from their fathers, had higher trust that the information was accurate, and were more likely to use their fathers as a source of sexual health information than females and trans- and gender-diverse participants. There is evidence to indicate that father-son sex communication can play a role in increasing adolescent males’ knowledge of sexual health.

Inter-firm relations and resource-based performance: a contingent relational view of small-scale farmers in Zambia

PurposeEffective and flexible organizational models have become an avenue for driving smallholder competitiveness in the agricultural sector. However, little is understood about the processes by which resource-constrained actors deploy their organizational networks to generate and retain value in rapidly changing agrifood environments. This study examines the moderating effects of business contingencies on the interplay between organizational relationships and the resource-based performance of small-scale farmers in a developing country.Design/methodology/approachThe authors propose a novel conceptual framework grounded in the relational view, netchain and contingency theories. Cross-sectional data obtained from 330 maize farmers in rural Zambia were analyzed using variance-based structural equation modeling, which involves mediation-moderation analysis.FindingsThe results show that all relational networks – vertical, horizontal and lateral – positively mediate the effects farm resources and social capital have on farmers' performance. However, these effects change depending on the predominant agency situations. Specifically, asymmetric power from customers and reputable competitors weakens the positive effect of closer horizontal relationships on business performance, while the positive effect of tighter informal vertical relationships on farmers' performance weakens under conditions of high affective trust. Moreover, the gender-based multigroup analyses highlight variations in the contingent relational view of men- and women-headed households.Research limitations/implicationsThe study relies on cross-sectional data from one agribusiness sector in Zambia, thus generalizations should be cautious.Originality/valueThe uniqueness of this study lies in the proposed theoretical framework and new empirical insights, which extend the scope of the relational view to small-scale farming households in developing countries.

If you really love nothing. Evaluating second-order factors in the case of Italian constitutional referendum of 2020

The paper evaluates several second-order factors to explain the outcomes of the 2020 constitutional referendum held in Italy. This particular referendum serves as a relevant case study to assess the significance of second-order factors, given its unique characteristics, including the simplicity of the referendum question regarding the reduction in the number of parliamentarians (MPs), the minimal impact on public finances resulting from this reduction, and the subsequent decrease in territorial democratic representation. While it might have been expected that a significant majority would vote in favour of the “No” option, thus preserving the current levels of territorial coverage (and democratic representation) of MPs, the actual results saw a substantial majority in favour of the “Yes” vote (69%). Our argument posits that the overwhelming prevalence of the “Yes” vote (to reduce the number of MPs), especially in poorer areas of the country, can be attributed to specific factors that influence individual evaluations in a direct-democratic setting. In greater detail, by using cross-sectional data, the paper tests the role of socio-economic condition, trust in institutions and political participation in affecting the referendum outcome. The results of our empirical analysis confirm our hypotheses, demonstrating that second-order factors indeed influenced the referendum's outcome. Specifically, our analysis reveals that: (i) a higher socio-economic condition could generate a higher share of “No” votes; (ii) a higher trust in institutions could lead to an increase in the share of “No” votes; finally, that (iii) an increase in political participation could produce a decrease in the share of “No” votes. In the concluding section of the paper, we discuss how this analysis contributes new insights to the study of voting behaviour in direct-democratic contexts.

Reduction of patient trust in physicians when supported by artificial intelligence: results of a vignette study among patients

Abstract Background Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) based on routine care data using artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly deployed. CDSSs, however, may affect patient-physician relationships (Figure 1) and potentially result in a decrease in treatment adherence. Communication about these systems has mostly focused on technical aspects and less on their acceptance and trust. We aimed to investigate whether patient trust in physicians is affected when supported by a CDSS. Methods We conducted a vignette study among the patient panel (N=860) of a University Medical Center. Patients were presented either a high-risk or a low-risk vignette. For both vignettes, a physician made a treatment decision with (intervention group) or without (control group) the use of a CDSS. Using a questionnaire with a 1-7 point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree), we collected data on patient trust in physicians in three dimensions: competence, integrity and benevolence, and trust in technology in general. We assessed differences between the control and intervention groups using Mann-Whitney U tests and potential effect modification by sex, age and education level using multivariate analyses. Results In total, 398 individuals participated. Trust in general was high (5.8 in the high-risk case and 6.0 in the low-risk case). Figure 2 illustrates the distribution of the dimensions of trust, by case and group. In the high-risk case, perceived competence and integrity was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (5.8 vs. 5.6 and 6.3 vs. 6.0, respectively). In the intervention group, perception of the physician’s competence and integrity was significantly lower in women than in men. No differences between the groups were found in the trust dimensions within the low-risk case. Participants with higher trust in technology in general also showed a higher confidence in physicians using a CDSS in terms of benevolence and integrity (P=.009 and P=.044, respectively). Conclusion We found that, in general, trust in physicians was high. However, our findings indicate a potentially negative effect of AI applications on the patient-physician relationship, especially in women and high-risk situations. Trust in technology in general might increase the likelihood of embracing the use of CDSSs by the treating professional.

Conceptualization of Senior Management Support to the Safety Management in Aviation Organizations in Turkey

ABSTRACT Senior managers are considered to play a major role in successful safety management practices. In this study, the meaning of what senior managers’ believe support to safety management means was examined and the components of this support were identified. The qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews from 21 Safety Management System and Compliance Monitoring managers working in Turkish aviation organizations. This qualitative data was then analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis method in the NVivo 10.0 Program. The following six components of senior management’s support for safety management were revealed: 1- Demonstrating Effective Safety Leadership, 2- Carrying Out Safety Related Planning Activities, 3- Providing Adequate Resources, 4- Controlling Safety Performance, 5- Strengthening Positive Safety Culture, and 6- Coordinating with Stakeholders. According to the participants, Having a High Safety Commitment, Being Convincing and Building Trust, and Encouraging Other Managers are the most important support components. Allocating necessary financial resources to safety management and strengthening positive reporting culture are also important support indicators. Additionally, it was found that strategic management in aviation organizations should include safety management. In addition, the role of senior management support in the success of contemporary safety management approaches emerged as critical.

Belief updating when confronted with scientific evidence: Examining the role of trust in science.

In one exploratory study (N = 985) and one preregistered study (N = 1100), we investigated whether trust in science influences belief change on a medico-scientific issue when laypersons are confronted with scientific evidence. Moreover, we tested whether individuals with high trust in science trust science "blindly," meaning that their trust in a scientific claim's source prevents them from adequately evaluating the claim itself. Participants read eight fictitious studies on the efficacy of acupuncture, which were experimentally manipulated regarding direction (evidence favoring acupuncture vs diverging evidence) and quality (high vs low; only Study 2). Acupuncture-related beliefs were measured before and after reading. Moderator and mediator analyses showed that the magnitude of belief change indeed depends on trust in science. Furthermore, we found that people with high trust in science are better able to evaluate the quality of scientific studies, which, in turn, protects them from being influenced by low-quality evidence.

The role of generalized trust and control in the employment of domestic help – An experimental case study for Germany and the UK

This study analyses the role of generalized trust and control in households’ employment of domestic help. Applying a basic trust game with uncertainty, we argue that households differ in their estimate of the proportion of opportunistic domestic workers, variation which we ascribe to generalized trust. Households with low trust should estimate a lower proportion of non-opportunistic individuals, making them less willing to accept a domestic worker. Control, through direct supervision of the domestic worker, is assumed to serve as a substitute for trust and is expected to increase acceptance. We also consider the role of income, which we expect to alter the relation between the potential losses and gains associated with outsourcing. To test our hypotheses, we use a factorial survey conducted in 2020 in Germany and the UK ( N = 1877) which enables us to explore the robustness of the effects across countries. Experimental results show that individuals are more accepting of domestic outsourcing if they have higher trust, higher income, and if control of the worker is easily possible. Interaction effects reveal that the positive effect of higher trust and higher income is only relevant in low control situations. This suggest that households with higher trust and income have an advantage when it comes to fully utilizing the benefits of domestic help since costly control is not required. Consequently, the results substantially contribute to existing literature on explaining causes of social inequality in service use beyond financial restrictions and shed light on the complex interplay of trust and control.

Public tap water perceptions and potable reuse acceptance: A cognitive dissonance theoretical understanding

Water scarcity is a pressing issue caused by many factors, including urban water demand, poor wastewater management, and climate change. To address this growing issue, wastewater recycling for potable use is encouraged worldwide. Planned potable reuse (PPR) involves reusing treated wastewater intentionally as a drinking water source. PPR promotes a circular water economy and reduces local water shortages. However, public acceptance of PPR remains low due to the psychological disgust associated with consuming treated wastewater, known as the yuck factor. Traditional educational marketing campaigns have been ineffective in increasing PPR acceptance, necessitating further investigation into other approaches to do so. This study analyzes whether consumers’ perceptions about their current tap water significantly links to their attitudes toward PPR. Guided by the cognitive dissonance theoretical framework, our study examines if public tap water customers who (1) already believe their drinking water contains treated wastewater (de facto reuse) and (2) trust their public water suppliers (PWS) are more likely to accept PPR. Two separate survey-based studies were conducted in 2019 and 2020 on adult public water consumers in the US. Statistical analyses reveal that those participants who believe their tap water contains de facto reuse water, have high trust in their PWS, or primarily consume tap water (behavioral trust) demonstrate greater acceptance of PPR. Additionally, our results suggest that acceptance toward PPR increased after the COVID pandemic, but this effect is moderated by gender. Overall, our study results indicate that addressing cognitive dissonance in consumer attitudes toward PPR may lead to more sustainable solutions for water management in the US. Further research should explore the interplay between de facto reuse beliefs, trust, and PPR acceptance, to enable the development of effective prosocial marketing strategies that can overcome the yuck factor and ultimately promote wider consumer acceptance of PPR.

Effect of Attending Rheumatologists' Big 5 Personality Traits on Patient Trust in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: The TRUMP2-SLE Project.

Differences in communication styles based on physicians' personality traits have been identified, particularly in primary care, and these physician-related factors can be important in building patient-physician trust. This study examined the effects of rheumatologists' personality traits on patients' trust in their attending rheumatologists. This cross-sectional study included adult Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at 5 academic medical centers between June 2020 and August 2021. The exposures were the Big 5 personality traits (ie, extraversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability) of attending rheumatologists using the Japanese version of the 10-Item Personality Inventory scale (1-7 points each). The outcome was the patients' trust in their attending rheumatologist using the Japanese version of the 5-item Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (0-100 points). A general linear model was fitted. The study included 505 patients with a mean age of 46.8 years; 88.1% were women. Forty-three attending rheumatologists (mean age: 39.6 years; 23.3% female) were identified. After multivariable adjustment, higher extraversion and agreeableness were associated with higher trust (per 1-point increase, 3.76 points [95% CI 1.07-6.45] and 4.49 points [95% CI 1.74-7.24], respectively), and higher conscientiousness was associated with lower trust (per 1-point increase, -2.17 points [95% CI -3.31 to -1.03]). Whereas higher extraversion and agreeableness of attending rheumatologists led to higher patient trust in their rheumatologist, overly high conscientiousness may lead to lower trust resulting from the physicians' demand of responsibility and adherence to instructions from patients with SLE.

Patients’ Trust in Artificial Intelligence–based Decision-making for Localized Prostate Cancer: Results from a Prospective Trial

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve treatment outcomes. However, AI integration into clinical workflows and patient perspectives remain unclear. ObjectiveTo determine patients’ trust in AI and their perception of urologists relying on AI, and future diagnostic and therapeutic AI applications for patients. Design, setting, and participantsA prospective trial was conducted involving patients who received diagnostic or therapeutic interventions for prostate cancer (PC). InterventionPatients were asked to complete a survey before magnetic resonance imaging, prostate biopsy, or radical prostatectomy. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe primary outcome was patient trust in AI. Secondary outcomes were the choice of AI in treatment settings and traits attributed to AI and urologists. Results and limitationsData for 466 patients were analyzed. The cumulative affinity for technology was positively correlated with trust in AI (correlation coefficient 0.094; p = 0.04), whereas patient age, level of education, and subjective perception of illness were not (p > 0.05). The mean score (± standard deviation) for trust in capability was higher for physicians than for AI for responding in an individualized way when communicating a diagnosis (4.51 ± 0.76 vs 3.38 ± 1.07; mean difference [MD] 1.130, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.010–1.250; t924 = 18.52, p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.040) and for explaining information in an understandable way (4.57 ± vs 3.18 ± 1.09; MD 1.392, 95% CI 1.275–1.509; t921 = 27.27, p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.216). Patients stated that they had higher trust in a diagnosis made by AI controlled by a physician versus AI not controlled by a physician (4.31 ± 0.88 vs 1.75 ± 0.93; MD 2.561, 95% CI 2.444–2.678; t925 = 42.89, p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 2.818). AI-assisted physicians (66.74%) were preferred over physicians alone (29.61%), physicians controlled by AI (2.36%), and AI alone (0.64%) for treatment in the current clinical scenario. ConclusionsTrust in future diagnostic and therapeutic AI-based treatment relies on optimal integration with urologists as the human-machine interface to leverage human and AI capabilities. Patient summaryArtificial intelligence (AI) will play a role in diagnostic decisions in prostate cancer in the future. At present, patients prefer AI-assisted urologists over urologists alone, AI alone, and AI-controlled urologists. Specific traits of AI and urologists could be used to optimize diagnosis and treatment for patients with prostate cancer.

Mapping the empirical relationship between environmental performance and social preferences: Evidence from macro data

This paper investigates the relationship between measures of environmental performance and of social preferences, thanks to the availability of a recently published dataset on global pref- erences. Using cross-sectional observations from 76 countries, this study finds evidence from macro data of a positive and statistically significant relationship between measures of proso- cial preferences, such as positive reciprocity, trust, and altruism, and environmental policy indicators in the categories of agriculture, forestry, and climate change after controlling for economic and geospatial factors. At the micro level, the results presented in this paper suggest a broader theory of collective action that is based on a behavioral approach to climate policy to mitigate motivational crowd out in settings of high reciprocity and trust. At the macro level, the results presented in this paper suggest a broader theory of climate clubs that includes pro- social preferences, such as positive reciprocity, trust, and altruism, as key cooperation mech- anisms in International Environmental Agreements.

Mpox Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Persons Presenting for JYNNEOS Vaccination-District of Columbia, August to October 2022.

More than 30,000 mpox cases have been confirmed in the United States since May 2022. Mpox cases have disproportionally occurred among adult gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; transgender persons; and Black and Hispanic/Latino persons. We examined knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mpox vaccination among adults presenting for vaccination to inform prevention efforts. We collected mixed-methods data from a convenience sample of adults presenting for JYNNEOS vaccination at 3 DC Health mpox vaccine clinics during August-October 2022. Survey and interview topics included knowledge about mpox symptoms and vaccine protection, beliefs about vaccine access, and trusted sources of information. In total, 352 participants completed self-administered surveys and 62 participants completed an in-depth interview. Three main themes emerged from survey and interview data. First, most participants had a general understanding about mpox, but gaps remained in comprehensive understanding about mpox symptoms, modes of transmission, vaccine protection, personal risk, and vaccine dosing strategies. Second, participants had high trust in public health agencies. Third, participants wanted more equitable and less stigmatizing access to mpox vaccine services. Nonstigmatizing, inclusive, and clear communication from trusted sources, including public health agencies, is needed to address mpox knowledge gaps and increase vaccine access and uptake in affected communities. Mpox outreach efforts should continue innovative approaches, including person-level risk assessment tools, to address community needs.

Psychosocial determinants of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors

Abstract Background Non-adherence to medical guidelines is associated with suboptimal health outcomes and increased healthcare costs, and yet adherence to preventive therapies is often difficult to achieve. Understanding which factors can improve adherence is a public health priority. In this study, we examined the association of psychosocial factors and adherence of preventive behaviors within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Panel data from the European COvid Survey (ECOS), a representative sample of residents aged 18+ from Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Portugal and Italy collected from April 2020 (wave 1) to May 2022 (wave 10) was used to examine trends and determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors (i.e., mask wearing, hand washing). Results With a total of 27,095 participants, 53.5% were female, and 15.9% were aged 18-24, 67.9% 25-64, and 16.3% 65+. The trends in adherence decreased over time except in wave 5 where a spike in adherence levels matched wave 1 levels and a surge in reported COVID-19 infections. In multivariable logistic regression models, worry about overloading the health system (OR = 1.26, 95%CI: 1.22-1.31), perceived risk to one's own health (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.08-1.18) and others (OR = 1.16, 95%CI: 1.10-1.22), and trust in institutions (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.12-1.26), traditional news media (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.10), and health providers (OR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.26-1.37) increased the likelihood of engaging in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. However, those with high trust in social media were less likely to follow prevention guidelines (OR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.75-0.80). Conclusions Psychosocial factors (risk perceptions, worry, and trust variables) were associated with adhering to COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Findings that high trust in social media was related to low adherence suggests more research is needed to understand how public health can improve health communications via social media, a popular information resource. Key messages • Health risk perceptions and worry about overloading the health system were associated with adhering to COVID-19 prevention guidelines. • Trust in social media was related to low adherence to COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Political trust in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic – A survey in Denmark and Sweden

Abstract Background The two neighboring countries Denmark and Sweden differed markedly in their initial response to the coronavirus pandemic as Denmark rapidly introduced mandatory restrictions while Sweden's response was characterized by voluntary recommendations and an emphasis on personal responsibility. Both countries saw considerable discussion in media about whether restrictions were sufficient and appropriate. Aim To investigate the extent to which there was political trust in the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark and Sweden and the characteristics of those in each country who expressed the lowest degree of trust. Methods Cross-sectional surveys were completed in Denmark (n = 2619) and Sweden (n = 2633) in 2021. Trust was captured in two questions: trust in how the government and the public health authority in each country had handled the pandemic. Those who expressed “very small trust” or “moderately small trust” were labelled “low-trusters”. The effects of demographic variables were analysed by logistic regression. Results Trust in the government's handling of the pandemic was considerably higher in Denmark than in Sweden. Approximately 61% of the Danish respondents expressed moderately or very large trust in the government's handling of the pandemic. The corresponding proportion for the Swedish respondents was smaller, 42%. Further, the proportion of low-trusters was considerably smaller in Denmark than in Sweden, 11% versus 34%. Also, males in both Denmark and Sweden were more than twice as likely as females to express low trust in the handling of the pandemic. Discussions Denmark and Sweden are similar in many ways, being universal welfare states, which have been associated with high political trust. Our findings suggest that the more active involvement of the Danish government in the battle against COVID-19 generated a high degree of public trust. The Swedish government's more passive role does not seem to have resulted in the same degree of trust. Key messages • Active involvement of authorities and governments seem to increase citizens’ trust. • The degree of trust in authorities and governments during a crisis differs among groups.

Emotional researchers or emotional audiences? The effect of emotions in climate change communication

How should researchers communicate about (politicized) risks, such as climate change? Some argue that researchers should express more emotions to emphasize the seriousness of the climate issue and persuade the public to act. However, there is still a lack of research on the consequences of emotion expressions in research communication. In the current study, we investigated people's evaluations of climate researchers described as being angry or sad when communicating about climate change and whether the effects depend on the researcher's gender. Our results, based on a nationally representative survey experiment (Study 1, N = 2046), showed no significant interaction effects between the researchers' gender and emotion expression nor any main effects of gender. However, we did find that information provided by angry researchers was less trusted than information provided by researchers described as expressing sadness or no emotion. Researchers described as angry were further taken less seriously compared to researchers who did not express emotions. Still, the effects were very small and were not replicated in a follow-up study (Study 2, N = 1219). In Study 1, we also considered the respondents' own climate emotions. Those reporting stronger anger or sadness both took the researcher more seriously and had higher trust in the provided information. The effects of the respondents' own emotions were far larger than those of the emotion expressed by the researchers. We found no interaction effects for emotion similarity between the researcher and the respondent with regards to taking the researcher seriously. However, those reporting no sadness or low to moderate levels of anger had higher trust in information provided by non-emotional as compared to sad or angry researchers, respectively.

Trusting others who vary in consistency between their personal standards and behavior: Differences by age, gender, and honesty trust beliefs

AbstractThree studies examined age, gender, and trust belief differences in using the consistency principle to judge the trustworthiness of persons who varied in the consistency between their personal standards and behavior. The participants were 78 adults (Mage = 22 years) in Study 1, 160 children from four age groups (6‐7, 8–9, 10–11, and 12–13, year‐olds) in Study 2, and 46 10–11‐year‐olds in Study 3 (N = 284). Approximately equal numbers of predominately White males and females participated. They judged the trustworthiness of persons who demonstrated consistency or inconsistency between their personal standards and behavior. It was found that adults, 12–13‐year‐olds, 10–11‐year‐olds, and 10–11‐year‐olds with high honesty trust beliefs in others judged the inconsistent persons as less trustworthy than consistent persons. Those participant samples judged inconsistent persons as untrustworthy and consistent persons as trustworthy. Male adults and 12–13‐year‐olds judged consistent persons as more trustworthy than their female counterparts. There are age trends, gender differences, and differences in honesty trust beliefs in the use of consistency principle to judge the trustworthiness of persons varying in the consistency between their personal standards and behavior.

Social media exposure’s effects on public support toward three-child policy in China: role of cognitive elaboration, perceived negative effects, and institutional trust

AbstractThe three-child policy constitutes a hotly debated socio-political issue in China. Upon its announcement, many Chinese citizens have ridiculed the move on social media. Adopting the cognitive mediation model and the influence of presumed influence theory, this study examines how social media exposure to three-child policy-related news and discussions could affect the Chinese public’s attitudes toward the policy. The online survey results show that social media exposure negatively predicts supportive opinion via cognitive elaboration and three types of perceived negative effects of the policy (i.e., perceived negative effects on self, on the public, and on females) in serial. It also finds that institutional trust moderates the relationship between cognitive elaboration and policy support. Only among people with high institutional trust, there is a positive effect of social media exposure on supportive opinion through cognitive elaboration.

Are farmers motivated to select for heat tolerance? Linking attitudinal factor, perceived climate change impact and social trust to farmers breeding desires

This study provides an understanding of dairy farmers' willingness to include heat tolerance in the breeding goals and the modulating effect of socio-psychological factors and farm profile. A survey instrument including a choice experiment was designed to specifically address the trade-off between heat tolerance and milk production level. One hundred and 22 farmers, across cattle, goats and sheep farms were surveyed face-to-face. The results of the experiment show that most farmers perceive that heat stress and climate change are increasingly important problems, and that farming communities should invest more in generating knowledge and resources on mitigation strategies. However, we found limited initial support for selection for heat tolerance. This attitude changed when farmers were presented with objective information on the benefits and limitations of the different breeding choices, after which most farmers supported selection for heat tolerance but only if compromising milk production gains to a small extent. Our results show that farmers' selection choices are driven by the interactions between heat stress risk perception, attitudes toward breeding tools, social trust, the species reared and farm production level. In general, farmers willing to support selection of heat-tolerant animals are those with positive attitudes toward genetic values and genomic information and a strong perception of climate change and heat stress impact on farm. On the contrary, negative support for selection for heat tolerance is found among farmers with high milk production levels, high trust in farming magazines, livestock farmers associations, and veterinarians, and low trust in environmental and animalist groups.