Life and Attitudes of Slovenians during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Problem of Trust

Abstract The article deals with research on the attitudes, reactions and behavior of the Slovenian population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with regard to general trust and trust in the Slovenian government. To gauge the reactions of Slovenians, we conducted an online survey among the adult population of Slovenia during the period of the pandemic and related restrictive measures. The survey was conducted on a probability sample of named individuals prepared on the basis of the Slovenian Central Population Register. The results confirm our expectations: there were no significant correlations between general trust in people and adherence to preventive measures. However, we found statistically significant correlations between trust in government and all aspects of compliance with measures to limit the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with stronger trust in the government followed the measures and reported less difficulty in complying with them. The results also suggest the relevance of Sztompka's thesis on functional substitutes for trust in a situation where trust is lacking.