Pathways to fulfillment: Understanding the interplay of Trust and Just World Beliefs in predicting Future Orientations

Abstract

Introduction: The period of adolescence is crucial for identity development, including the formation of trust towards individuals and institutions. Given contemporary concerns such as climate change, promoting positive future orientations among adolescents is challenging, yet essential for understanding their overall well-being. This study investigates relationships between two types of trust (interpersonal and institutional) and future orientations among vocational education students in The Netherlands. Moreover, this study also investigates whether just world beliefs (JWB) mediate these relationships. Methods: The total sample of this study consists of 810 participants, who filled in a questionnaire designed in the YOUth Got Talent project. Regression analyses were conducted to explore expectations that interpersonal and institutional trust are positively associated with future orientations (H1). Mediation analyses examined the expectation that JWB could explain the relationship between adolescents’ trust and future orientations (H2). Results: Results support both hypotheses on both forms of trust. JWB partially mediates the relationship between both forms of trust and future orientations, with the mediation model with interpersonal trust explaining 24,9% of future orientation outcomes, and the mediation model with institutional trust explaining 19,2% of future orientation outcomes. Conclusion: It is concluded that trust and just world beliefs might be interrelated in predicting future orientations. Both are essential for shaping adolescents’ perspectives on the future, highlighting the importance of cultivating trust to enhance adolescents’ future orientations and well-being. Practical advice includes developing interventions to enhance adolescents’social skills, promoting effective parenting strategies for trust within families, and ensuring transparent communications from institutions.