Neighborhood as a place to foster generalized trust among young adults in Hong Kong

Aims: Generalized trust is a crucial determinant of individual and social well‐being and is the fundamental element of a healthy society. However, a decline in generalized trust was observed among Hong Kong young adults, despite local neighborhoods, and placed‐based experiences gaining popularity among Hong Kong young people. Hence, this paper examines the effect of neighborhood‐level factors on promoting generalized trust. Method: Cross‐sectional data were obtained from 1635 young adults aged 17–23 through mixed‐mode surveys—a computer‐assisted telephone interviewing CATI telephone survey, an online survey, and a mail survey. Results: Logistic regression results showed that neighborhood cohesiveness, being an active member of a religious organization, being an active member of a local youth organization, acceptance of ethnic diversity, and having a good parental relationship were related to higher odds of reporting generalized trust. Conclusion: Research and practice implications and the international relevance of the findings are discussed.