Structure and developmental characteristics of interpersonal trust among adolescents

Objective To explore the structure and developmental characteristics of interpersonal trust among adolescents.Methods A total of 544 young students were investigated with an interpersonal trust scale survey in Guangzhou City. Results Factor analysis found that adolescent interpersonal trust was composed of six factors: trust in society member( 11. 47%),social organizations( 9. 91%),vigilance( 6. 83%),teachers and parents( 6. 51%),peers behavior( 5. 91%) and trust in the international community( 5. 74%),which covered the special trust and universal trust,self defense. The trust of members of society,social organizations and parents / teachers among middle school students were higher than high school students( P 0. 05),the trust for parents / teachers among high school students was lower than college students and middle school students( P 0. 01). No significant difference between members of society and social organizations was found. Two-way ANOVA found that juniors had significant main effect in trust object( F = 14. 58,P 0. 01) and interaction( F = 7. 9,P 0. 01). Simple effect analysis found no difference in trust of social members,organizations and parents / teachers among grade 7 students; higher trust in social organization than trust in parents / teachers and society members among grade 8 students( P 0. 01); highest in trust of social organization,followed by trust in parents / teachers and society members among grade 9 students. There were no significant main effects and interactions among high school students. There were significant main effects among college students,with highest trust of teachers,followed by trust of social organizations and society members. Conclusion Junior school students had higher general and special trust than high school and college students. The interpersonal trust of school students is in the formation period and is influenced by the psychological characteristics of adolescence. College students' interpersonal trust structure tends to be mature and stable,and have the characteristics of the pattern of difference sequence.