Patterns of institutional trust during COVID-19

Abstract

Institutional trust significantly affects compliance with public health measures, such as those implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, including social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination. To explore patterns of institutional trust among adults in the United States Gulf Coast region, we utilized data from the Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity among Neighborhoods in the Gulf. This survey evaluated trust levels across six institutions: local, state, and federal governments, local religious organizations, academia, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employing latent class analysis, we identified three trust patterns: high, medium, and low. Regression analysis revealed demographic differences between the classes, indicating that Black or Hispanic individuals are less likely to be in the low-trust group, whereas those identifying as more religious are more likely to belong to the low-trust group compared to the medium- or high-trust groups. These findings suggest that in future pandemics and emergencies, officials and policymakers should collaborate with local religious leaders to ensure that all community members receive crucial information from trusted sources. This approach may enhance compliance with public health directives.