Trust and health: testing the reverse causality hypothesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social capital research has consistently shown positive associations between generalised trust and health outcomes over 2 decades. Longitudinal studies attempting to test causal relationships further support the theory that trust is an independent predictor of health. However, as the reverse causality hypothesis has yet to be empirically tested, a knowledge gap remains. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate if health status predicts trust.

Methods

Data employed in this study came from 4 waves of the British Household Panel Survey between years 2000 and 2007 (N=8114). The sample was stratified by baseline trust to investigate temporal relationships between prior self-rated health (SRH) and changes in trust. We used logistic regression models with ran

SUBMITTER: Giordano GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4717376 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature