THE INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING AND POLITICAL TRUST
Keywords:
subjective well-being, political trust, electoral processes, social capital, psychological factorsAbstract
This article examines the relationship between individual subjective well-being and political trust in the pre-electoral period of the 2026 parliamentary elections in the Republic of Armenia. The study is grounded in social-psychological and political science approaches, particularly within the framework of social capital theory, where trust is considered an important factor of social cohesion and institutional stability. The main objective of the research is to identify the relationship between subjective well-being and political trust, as well as to determine whether subjective well-being can serve as a determining factor of political trust.
The research objectives include the examination of subjective well-being across different socio-demographic groups and the analysis of its relationship with political trust. A quantitative research methodology was applied. The sample consisted of 214 respondents. Data were collected using the “Subjective Well-Being Assessment Methodology” and a localized version of Rotter’s Interpersonal Trust Scale for measuring political trust. Data analysis was conducted using Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression statistical methods.
The results show that subjective well-being demonstrates statistically significant differences across gender, educational level, with higher levels observed among individuals with higher education. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and significant relationship between subjective well-being and political trust (r = 0.395, p < 0.01). The regression model confirmed that subjective well-being significantly determines political trust (R² = 0.186), particularly through its affective and cognitive components.
Based on the findings, it can be concluded that political trust is influenced not only by socio-political factors but also by psychological factors, particularly subjective well-being. The relevance of the study lies in the empirical identification of the relationship between subjective well-being and political trust within the context of parliamentary elections in Armenia.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hasmik Sargsyan
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