Does trust affect life satisfaction? Structural equation models for european migrants and non-migrants

Abstract

This article aims at identifying the effect of trust on life satisfaction and the potential differences between natives and third-country nationals (TCNs), by using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The analysis employs the 2018 round of the European Social Survey, which covers 30 countries, both EU and non-EU. The empirical research includes two key-concepts: life satisfaction and trust. The SEM model involves three latent variables: one for the dependent variable, life satisfaction, and two for the independent variables, which capture two dimensions of trust: interpersonal trust and political trust. The estimated models pass the criteria for validity and the models can be considered robust. Our results confirm the direct relationship between trust and life satisfaction for both natives and TCNs. At the same time, our findings highlight the fact that trust in politics and people is just as important for TCNs, while for natives, trust in people is more important than trust in politics.