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. 2022 Apr 15;22(1):330.
doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-02847-5.

Social trust and stress symptoms among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Asia

Nan Jiang  1 , Alfred M Wu  2 , Edmund W Cheng  3
Affiliations

Social trust and stress symptoms among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Asia

Nan Jiang et al. BMC Geriatr. .

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether social trust is associated with more stress symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in six East and Southeast Asia regions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This multi-region study used cross-sectional survey data collected in May 2020. Participants were a probability-based internet sample of adults aged 55 or older.

Results: Government trust was negatively associated with stress in Singapore and South Korea. Higher levels of health care trust were significantly associated with less stress in Singapore and Taiwan. Trust in neighbors was associated with a higher likelihood of stress in Hong Kong and a lower likelihood in Singapore. Social trust was not associated with stress in Japan or Thailand.

Discussion: Findings suggest the level of social trust in relation to stress substantially varied by region. Interventions to strengthen trust during COVID-19 and other major health crises need to be tailored to fit regions' unique circumstances.

Keywords: Asia; COVID-19; Cross-national survey; Social trust; Stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Daily Number of COVID-19 Cases and Survey Period, from February to May 2020
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Region-wise Association Between Social Trust and COVID-19 Stress Symptoms. Notes: Associations were estimated with multivariable ordinary least squares regression, adjusting for age, gender, income level, education, employment status, residence status, presence of chronic diseases, whether live with spouse, and whether live with children. The overall estimates and weights were calculated by random-effects meta-analysis. Coef. refers to the regression coefficient; diamond, heterogeneity. 0 to 40%: might not be important; 40 to 75%: may represent moderate heterogeneity; 75 to 100%: considerable heterogeneity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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