Running Head: LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP 1

Level of Trust Within an Intimate Relationship

Auna R. Allen

Loras College
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LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

Abstract

The aim of this study identifies aspects of relationship quality in correlation to level of

trust. A partner’s willingness to accept or trust another person is vitally important in quality of

relationships between the partners. Trust plays a role in positive psychosocial development in

which later can translate into adulthood (Laborde, et al. 2014). Trust also is shown to play a

tremendous role in relationship confidence and suggests those who have greater level of trust

will experience a greater likelihood of positive behaviors within a relationship. Level of trust

within an interpersonal relationship was measured with a seven-point scale. (Rempel, Holmes, &

Zanna, 1985). This seven-point scale is used to grade the level to which undergraduate students

rate their relationship experiences. Participants in Rempel’s interpersonal trust study showed

moderate to neutral levels of trust within relationships, which would help correlate to a moderate

or neutral relationship quality (Rempel, Holmes, & Zanna,1985). Other research show motives

behind level of trust related closely to confidence level, and the need for closure within

relationships (Acar-Burkay, et al. 2014).

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LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

Level of Trust Within an Intimate Relationship

Trust plays an important role in the quality of relationships. Often trust is closely related

to confidence level that one finds within a relationship. Interpersonal trust has been defined as

“confidence that one will find what is desired from another, rather than what is feared.” (Rempel,

Holmes, & Zanna, 1985). Individuals in a relationship should be willing to be reliable and

honest. Additionally, trust is an individual’s willingness to accept vulnerability based upon

positive expectations of the intentions and behavior of the partner. Trust is also seen to evolve

out of past experiences and prior interactions; thus, it usually develops as the relationship does.

Trust can also be influenced by individual and interpersonal factors (Acar-Burkay, et al. 2014).

Improvements in behaviors such as faith center on the level of emotional security they share with

their partner; in which enables them to feel confident about an uncertain future (Rempel,

Holmes, & Zanna, 1985).

Romantic relationships center around the importance of trust. A study conducted by

Laborde et al. (2014) consisted of interviews with 33 participants from ages 16-22. It was found

that young people value trust as one of the most important characteristics in an interpersonal

relationship. Trust was also associated to fidelity, vulnerability and emotional intimacy. It was

also made clear through this study that trust is valued in many different age ranges, it was proven

to be a desired characteristic for both youth and adults in relationships (Laborde, et al. 2014).

These representations of trust can be found in many different behaviors. It was found in another

study that trust related issues involve higher levels of uncertainty and constant need for closure

(Acar-Burkay, et al. 2014).

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LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

Though the results of this study it was suggested that individuals use a form of social-

cognitive motivation to manage uncertainty, it was found that this is an important motivational

factor for trust. The need for closure (NFC) triggers the motivational aspect of a person’s

judgment. Research on need for closure suggests that the level of uncertainty regarding others’

future behaviors should be harsher for people with high NFC than those with low (Acar-Burkay,

et al. 2014). This need for closure is an important aspect of having healthy relationships but, trust

is a very immense factor of well-functioning relationships (Acar-Burkay, et al. 2014).

Having trusting relationships early in life correlate into having happier and better

functioning relationships into adulthood (Laborde, et al. 2014). Two studies were conducted to

determine why there are variations of people’s perception of relationships over short periods of

time. In the first study, they used long-term relationships to assess each partners relationship

daily perceptions. Individuals who had low trust in their partners reported a poorer relationship

quality. These individuals also perceived conflict as more negative when compared to the

partners who had greater levels of trust. Study two was conducted with cohabiting partners.

These partners tend to label both positive and negative features of their partners. These findings

suggest that negative events within the relationship can lower the overall quality (Campbell,

Simpson, Boldry, & Rubin, 2010).

This study will be focusing on the level students trust their intimate partners. This study

identified the aspects of relationships that participants might not have questioned before. I

hypothesize that participants will display a higher level of distrust within romantic relationships

because of immature dating experiences.

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LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

Methods

Participants

Forty students participated in this study ranging from 18-21 years of age. There were 24

female participants, and 16 male participants. Participants were recruited by non-probability

snowball sampling. Participants were asked to forward the email to friends. Those who agreed

to participant in this study were emailed a link to an online survey.

Materials

Trust within a close interpersonal relationship is measured with (Rempel, Holmes, &

Zanna,1985) trust scale. The seven-point scale consisted of 17 items; in which measured the

extent to which a person in a relationship agrees or disagrees with their partner. The scale

consists of three subscales. The maximum value is 60, and the minimum value is -60.

Predictability indicates that the consistency and stability of the partner’s specific behavior

patterns based on past experiences. Dependability concentrates on the partner's confidence in the

face of risk and potential hurt. Lastly, faith centers on the feelings and responsiveness in the face

of an uncertain future. The total trust measure is the sum of the three subscale totals. The

standard deviation was not reported in the article. The general Cronbach alpha was .81 with

subscale reliabilities of .80, .72, and .70 for faith, dependability, and predictability, respectively.

The norms were not reported in the article. It was found in (Rempel, Holmes, & Zanna,1985)

that faith was the strongest correlation to happiness inside a relationship. I added a question to

the scale about happiness and confidence. Additionally, I added a question about confidence in
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LEVEL OF TRUST WITHIN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP

telling your partner things without hesitation. Lastly, I added a question about whether or not

they believe their partner confides in them when it is needed. I added these questions to

determine whether or not partners confide in each other without hesitation, a strong indicator of

trust within a relationship.

Procedure

The participants each took a revised online version of the Level of Interpersonal Trust

Scale. This online survey asked participants to think about aspects of interpersonal relationships

that related to trust level. The participants were advised to read and answer 20 questions using

the appropriate rating provided. The scale used -3 as strongly disagreeing, 3 as agreeing and 0

being neutral. Based on the results of the survey, each participant could analyze their levels of

trust within their relationships. All data collected online was gathered anonymously.

Results

The participants scored relatively moderate on the scale (M = 20.97, SD = 12.342). The

Cronbach’s alpha measure of reliability was .791. Female participants scored, lower on the scale,

(M = 17.50, SD = 12.148). While, males scored higher than females at (M = 26.19, SD =

11.023). The range of the data set was 8.69, respectively. Refer to figure 1.0.

Discussion

I hypothesized that undergraduate students would display greater levels of distrust within

intimate relationships because of immature dating experiences. This hypothesis was not

supported because the studies data showed a relatively moderate-high level of trust in student’s

intimate relationships. Overall, the histogram (figure 1.0) represented a normal bell curve

indicating normal distribution. I observed that gender played a role in trust level. Males on a

mathematical average were found to have greater levels of trust when compared to females.
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Limitations of the study included, how many participants had prior or existing dating experience,

and how many were in current relationships.

Future research can build off this study because it supports the idea that age related

experiences correlate to improved level of trust, and therefore higher quality intimate

relationships. Additionally, the impact of gender could be studied.

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References

Acar-Burkay, S., Fennis, B. M., & Warlop, L. (2014). Trusting others: The polarization effect of

need for closure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(4), 719-735.

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.loras.edu/10.1037/a0037022.

Campbell, L., Simpson, J. A., Boldry, J. G., & Rubin, H. (2010). Trust, variability in relationship

evaluations, and relationship processes. Journal of Personality and Social

Psychology, 99(1), 14-31. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.loras.edu/10.1037/a0019714

Laborde, N. D., vanDommelen-Gonzalez, E., & Minnis, A. M. (2014). Trust, that's a big one:

intimate partnership values among urban Latino youth. Culture, health &

sexuality, 16(9), 1009–1022. doi:10.1080/13691058.2014.921837.

Rempel, J.K, Holmes, J.G., & Zanna, M.P. (1985). Trust in Close Relationships. Journal of

Personality and Social Psychology. 49(1), 95-112.

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Figure 1.0