The Social Power of Patriotism: Americans Who Are Proud of Their National Identity Are More Likely To Trust Their Fellow Citizens

Key Findings

• Most Americans (61%) agree that most of their fellow Americans can be trusted. This includes 63% of men and 58% of women.
• There are no differences in social trust between political groups. Around 60% of liberals, moderates, and conservatives agree that most Americans can be trusted.
• Social trust increases with age with 70% of adults 60 and over but only 48% of adults under 30 agreeing that most Americans can be trusted.
• Social trust differs across racial/ ethnic groups. The majority of White (67%), Asian (61%), and Hispanic (52%) Americans but only a minority of Black (44%) Americans agree that most Americans can be trusted.
• There are no differences in social trust across regions of the country. Around 60% of Americans living in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West agree that most Americans can be trusted.
• The majority of Americans across income groups agree that most Americans can be trusted, but social trust increases with household income.
• The majority of Americans with different levels of formal education who have at least a high school degree or equivalent agree that most American can be trusted, but social trust increases with level of formal education.
• National pride is positively associated with social trust; 66% of Americans who are proud of their national identity agree that most Americans can be trusted compared to 46% of Americans who are not proud of their national identity.
• National pride is positively associated with social trust for both men and women, across political groups, age groups, most racial/ethnic groups, regions of the country, and income groups. National pride is also positively associated with social trust at different levels of formal education for Americans who have at least a high school-level education or equivalent.
• National pride is a stronger predictor of social trust than other variables (age, income, level of education, race/ ethnicity, gender, and optimism about the future of the US) associated with social trust.

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