FACTORS PREDICTING ADOLESCENTS’ TRUST IN THE POLICE IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological and sociocultural predictors of adolescents’ trust in the police within the Lithuanian context. Despite high public trust in law enforcement among adults, little is known about how institutional trust is formed during adolescence, a critical developmental stage. Drawing on legal analysis and psychological theory, this research examines how social trust (from parents, peers, and teachers), media influence, and information credibility affect adolescents’ attitudes toward the police, with particular attention to the mediating role of perceived police effectiveness. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design with a sample of 204 adolescents aged 15–17 from a public secondary school in Vilnius. Psychometric scales were applied, and data were analysed using factor analysis, multiple regression, and mediation modelling. The findings reveal that perceived police effectiveness is the strongest direct predictor of trust in the police. Social trust and exposure to positive narratives also predict trust indirectly through perceived effectiveness. In contrast, media influence and information credibility did not directly influence trust when perceived effectiveness was considered. Gender differences were identified, with girls reporting higher trust levels than boys. These results support the procedural justice framework and underscore the need for developmentally sensitive, performance-based strategies to enhance youth trust in law enforcement. The study offers both empirical insights and practical implications for legal reform, school–police partnerships, and community trust-building initiatives.