Religiosity, trust, and the acceptance of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic restrictions: the case of Poland

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationships between personal religiosity, trust, and the acceptance of restrictions which could be imposed on individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to overcome the crisis. The study was carried out in Poland, a country with one of the highest declared levels of religiosity in Europe. Interpersonal and institutional trust were measured. The acceptance of the pandemic restrictions was positively related to personal religiosity and institutional trust (trust in the Church, trust in the Government, and trust in the health authorities). However, there was no association between the acceptance of the restrictions and interpersonal trust. Trust in the Church turned out to mediate the relationship between religiosity and the acceptance of most restrictions associated with the pandemic. The results of the study are discussed in the context of other studies on the relationship between religiosity and health behavior.