Trust in local institutions and citizens' subjective well-being Evidence from the case of Modena

This paper investigates the relationship between the effectiveness of public support and the psychological well-being of citizens during the pandemic by taking into account spatial and institutional characteristics, social organisation and institutional trust. In particular, it analyses how trust enters into the relationship between the perceived effectiveness of public support measures and individuals' self-reported psychological well-being. To this end, we develop an empirical model that explores the mediating effects of trust on psychological well-being. The research was carried out in the province of Modena (in Emilia-Romagna region of Italy) by a questionnaire aimed exclusively at women. A total of 574 responses were collected. The main findings reveal that the perceived effectiveness of policies (their ease of access and their adequacy) affects individual well-being and this relationship is mediated by the citizen's trust in institutions. Institutions matter most at the local level and, if public support is required, trust in institutions matters for individual well-being even more than trust in other people or in Third Sector Organisations. At the local level, the variation in institutional trust influences the relationship between the perceived effectiveness of policy and the perceived individual well-being even when respondents do not seek public support.