Does interpersonal trust matter? the influence of interpersonal trust on haze risk perception

ABSTRACT

While previous studies have investigated how trust influences risk perception, few have assessed interpersonal trust at different relationship proximities. This study employed a multilevel approach to determine how interpersonal trust affected haze risk perception (i.e. pollution haze) using data from the 2017 China Urbanization Social Survey and found the following: (1) trust in closely related persons and trust in acquaintances was positively associated with haze risk perception, while trust in strangers showed negative association; (2) the effect of trust in closely related persons on haze risk perception was stronger in areas with higher haze pollution than in areas with lower haze pollution. Based on these results, to improve haze risk perception, creating an environment that can enhance trust among closely related persons and acquaintances is important.

KEYWORDS:

• Haze pollution
• haze risk perception
• seeking emotional support
• interpersonal trust
• interpersonal communication
• relationship proximity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Fund of Philosophy and Social Sciences of China [grant number 22BSH037] and National Fund of Philosophy and Social Sciences of China [grant number 22CSH095].

Notes on contributors

Xiaonan Wang

Xiaonan Wang 1978-5-29, Female, PhD., the professor in the College of Public Administration, Shanghai Open University. She serves as the director of the professional committee of environmental sociology. Her research fields include environmental behavior, environmental policy, environmental risk analysis, and environmental health. E-mail: [email protected].

Maoxin Ye

Maoxin Ye 1990-11-23, Male, PhD., the lecturer in Department of Sociology, School of Humanities, Southeast University. His research fields include social risk and management, organizational sociology, social equality. E-mail: [email protected].