Discrimination and Distrust: Exploring the Role of Perceived Discrimination on Institutional Trust through Interpersonal Trust

Abstract

This study examines the association between perceived discrimination due to country and institutional trust among Dutch MBO students, with interpersonal trust included as a potential mediator. Institutional trust is a key component of democratic stability and civic engagement, yet little is known about how discriminatory experiences affect the levels of institutional trust among adolescents, and especially MBO students. Data were drawn from the first wave of the YOUth Got Talent project and included 273 Dutch MBO students aged 16-25 with a migration background. The findings revealed that perceived discrimination due to country was significantly and negatively associated with institutional trust, suggesting that discriminatory experiences could lead to lower levels of institutional trust among adolescents. Furthermore, interpersonal trust was found to be a significant mediator. This implies that the association between perceived discrimination due to country and institutional trust goes through interpersonal trust. These results highlight the roles that perceived discrimination due to country and interpersonal trust might play in shaping adolescents’ levels of trust in institutions and offers insights that contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that shape trust among Dutch MBO students with a migration background. In addition, these insights suggest that reducing perceived discrimination and enhancing interpersonal trust might contribute to higher levels of institutional trust among MBO students with a migration background. Creating more inclusive peer environments could be an effective strategy to support this.