A STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRUST IN ADULTS AND ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS
Effects of supportive feelings by families and friends
1997 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 79-86
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1997 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 79-86
This study examined the development of the sense of trust from adulthood to senescence. The trust scale and items measuring supportive feelings from families and friends were used. Using questionnaire and interview methods, data were collected from 892 subjects aged 30 to over 60 years old.(a) The results of factor analysis by age group showed that “trust for self”,“trust for others” and “distrust” were effective to understand the sense of trust not only for adolescents but for adults and elderlies also. The trust scale made of 18 items was reconstructed.(b) The relationships between the above three dimensions of trust varied with age. That is, correlations between “trust for self” and “distrust” proved to be negative in young adults, nonsignificant in older adults while positive in the elderly. On the contrary, correlations between “trust for others” and “distrust” were negative in adults and non- significant in the elderly.(c) Supportive feelings from families and friends affected mainly “trust for others” in a lifelong view. For the 50-59 years old, gaps in memory about the past and present supportive feelings affected significantly their “distrust”.
