Youth, politics and trust: Significance of trust for the political activity of youth

Discussions concerning low trust scores in politics and politicians (both refer to a lack of political interest and activity), increasingly focus attention on how, in particular, adolescents relate trust to political activity. Younger people are said to show a lack of political interest. Nevertheless empirical studies about the determinants of missing political commitment and about the combination of trust and political action are extremely rare. Therefore, this empirical study Focuses on the impact of trust on juveniles' political involvement. The question which characteristics trustworthy politicians must have in adolescents' eyes, and if relevant interindividual differences do exist is of special regard.