Trust Creates a Cycle of Happiness That Spans Lifetimes

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence that trust and happiness form a self-reinforcing loop that can shape our well-being throughout our entire lives.

The largest study of its kind, analyzing data from over 2.5 million people across six continents, reveals that trusting others doesn’t just make us happier—happiness also makes us more trusting, creating a powerful cycle that benefits individuals and societies alike.

The research, published in Psychological Bulletin, represents the most comprehensive examination ever conducted of how trust relates to subjective well-being across different ages, cultures, and circumstances.

The Universal Language of Trust

“Our findings show that trust plays a key role in how happy and satisfied people feel, across all ages, especially so for children, adolescents and older adults,” said Catrin Finkenauer, a professor at Utrecht University and co-author of the study. “Whether it’s trust in others, in society or in institutions, all types matter for well-being.”

But here’s where it gets interesting: the relationship works both ways. The team found that people who report higher levels of trust tend to experience better well-being over time. Conversely, those who feel happier and more satisfied with life become more trusting as months and years pass.

This bidirectional relationship suggests something profound about human nature. Rather than being fixed personality traits, both trust and happiness appear to be dynamic qualities that can grow and strengthen each other throughout our lives.

Trust Matters Most When We’re Young and Old

The researchers discovered that trust has the strongest connection to well-being during two crucial life stages: childhood and adolescence, and older adulthood. For young people, trust appears essential for forming the social relationships that are critical for healthy development. For older adults, trust becomes increasingly important as they navigate physical limitations and depend more on others for support.

What about the type of trust? The study examined three different varieties: trust in people we know personally, trust in strangers and society in general, and trust in institutions like government or healthcare systems. Surprisingly, all three types showed positive associations with well-being, though personal trust in family and friends showed the strongest connection.

The Country Factor

One particularly intriguing finding emerged when researchers looked at national differences. In countries where general trust levels are higher—places like Finland and Denmark—the individual benefits of being trusting were amplified. This suggests that living in a high-trust society creates a virtuous cycle that benefits everyone.

The study included participants from 43 countries, with the most data coming from the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. National trust levels varied dramatically, from as low as 3.5% in Trinidad and Tobago to nearly 60% in Finland, measured by the percentage of people who believe “most people can be trusted.”

Why Trust Makes Us Happier

The researchers point to several psychological theories that explain why trust enhances well-being. According to the need-to-belong theory, humans have an innate drive to form positive relationships. Trust acts as the foundation for these connections, helping people build the social networks that are essential for mental health.

“Trust is the glue that holds relationships, communities and societies together,” Finkenauer explained. “Research shows that supportive, healthy relationships are key to well-being—and trust plays a central role in building and maintaining those connections.”

The Happiness-Trust Loop

Why does happiness make us more trusting? The answer lies in how our emotions shape our perceptions. When people feel good, they’re more likely to view the world and other people in a positive light. This emotional state makes them more willing to take the social risks involved in trusting others.

The researchers tracked these effects over time in longitudinal studies spanning up to eight years. The effects were modest but consistent: higher trust predicted greater future well-being, while greater well-being predicted increased future trust.

Trust Across Life’s Challenges

The study also examined trust and well-being among vulnerable populations, including refugees, disaster victims, and people with mental health challenges. While these groups often showed lower overall levels of both trust and well-being, the positive relationship between the two remained strong.

Interestingly, the researchers found no significant differences between men and women in how trust relates to well-being. This challenges some assumptions about gender differences in social behavior and suggests that the benefits of trust are truly universal.

The Measurement Challenge

One of the study’s most important contributions is establishing clear benchmarks for measuring these relationships. The researchers found that trust showed the strongest association with life satisfaction compared to emotional states like happiness or anxiety. This makes sense, as life satisfaction represents a more stable, long-term evaluation of one’s circumstances.

The effects sizes, while statistically robust, translate to modest real-world impacts. The correlation between trust and well-being was approximately 0.21—meaningful but not overwhelming. This suggests that trust is one important ingredient in the recipe for happiness, but not the only one.

Building Trustworthy Societies

These findings have important implications for policymakers and community leaders. Since trust and well-being reinforce each other, investments in building trustworthy institutions and fostering social connections could create lasting benefits for public health and social cohesion.

“In today’s world, where media can both connect and mislead, safeguarding public trust is more important than ever,” Finkenauer noted. “By promoting media literacy and enacting fair regulations, we take essential steps to protect that trust.”

The research also highlights an important caveat: trust must be earned. “But trust can’t be forced—it has to be earned,” she emphasized. “Families, schools and governments all share the responsibility of creating environments where people can rely on each other. When we build trust, we also support mental health and stronger communities.”

The Path Forward

The study represents nearly five years of work by an international team of researchers who analyzed 991 effect sizes from 488 studies. Despite its scope, the researchers acknowledge important limitations, including potential publication bias and the need for more research on children and adolescents.

Perhaps most importantly, the research suggests that the relationship between trust and well-being isn’t just an individual matter—it’s a collective responsibility. In societies where institutions are trustworthy and people generally trust each other, everyone benefits from enhanced well-being.

As communities worldwide grapple with declining social trust and rising mental health challenges, this research offers both hope and a roadmap. By understanding how trust and happiness reinforce each other across our lifespans, we can work to create the conditions where both can flourish.