The relationship between trust in risk management and anxiety about risk: Analyses based on a range of risks

Abstract

The present research investigated the relationship between public anxiety about a variety of risks and trust in the management of each risk. Adults (N = 2200) were selected from the residents' basic registers using a stratified two-step random sampling method. Of this sample, 1192 (54.2%) rated their anxiety toward 51 kinds of risks and their trust in the management of each risk. Six-point scales were utilized for their ratings. The results demonstrated that the more the risk management was trusted, the less the risk was of concern. The basic statistics for the trust ratings are provided for the discussion of societal risk governance. The implications and limitations of the present findings are discussed.