Trust increases with age; benefits well-being

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/nu-tiw031815.php

Public Release: 19-Mar-2015
Northwestern University

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"When we think of old age, we often think of decline and loss," said study co-author Claudia Haase, an assistant professor of Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern's School of Education and Social Policy.

"But a growing body of research shows that some things actually get better as we age," Haase said. "Our new findings show that trust increases as people get older and, moreover, that people who trust more are also more likely to experience increases in happiness over time."

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One explanation for age-related increases in trust is that since older adults are increasingly motivated to give back to others, they believe them to be good and trustworthy, Poulin said.

"We know that older people are more likely to look at the bright side of things," Haase added. "As we age, we may be more likely to see the best in other people and forgive the little letdowns that got us so wary when we were younger."

Though trust can have negative consequences, especially among older adults at risk of falling for scams and fraud, the studies found no evidence that those negative consequences erode the benefits of trust.

"Both studies found a positive association between trust and well-being that was consistent across the life span, suggesting that trust is not a liability in old age," Poulin said.

"Our findings suggest that trust may be an important resource for successful development across the life span," Haase added.