Religious and political determinants of institutional trust in Poland

Trust in institutions in Poland, as in many other countries, is influenced by various factors, such as political, social, and economic events, as well as through religious elements. In Poland, religiosity plays an important social and cultural role, especially in the context of most adherents of Christianity, mainly Catholics. Catholic traditions are deeply rooted in the country's history and culture, and the Catholic Church generally enjoys a high level of trust, due to both its long-standing political position and the Church's historical involvement in various aspects of social life. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between religious aspects (measured by participation in religious practices) and the level of institutional trust in Poland. The analysis is based on data collected by the Center for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) as part of the "Social Trust" survey, which has been conducted in Poland for twenty years. A bibliographic search was also conducted to strengthen the theoretical basis of the article.