Institutional Trust Examined: Validating and Cross-Validating the Construct

In the face of global crises demanding collective action, institutional trust has emerged as a critical factor influencing public compliance and policy effectiveness. This study examines the validity of institutional trust as a multidimensional construct, focusing on the widely adopted scale by Mayer and Davis (1999). Employing data sets across different topics, populations, and time periods, we conducted psychometric analyses to assess the scale’s reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and measurement invariance. Our findings support a three-factor model of institutional trust—ability, benevolence, and integrity—measured through a refined 14-item scale. The scale demonstrated robust psychometric properties and measurement invariance over time and across topics within Asian countries. However, measurement invariance was not established between Eastern and Western cultures, suggesting cultural differences in interpreting benevolence-related items. The lack of cross-cultural measurement invariance underscores the need for culturally adaptive scales when assessing institutional trust globally. This study highlights the importance of rigorous construct validation to advance systematic knowledge and theory building in institutional trust research.