The impact of public trust on self-preservation health practices: a sociological analysis

The article offers a comprehensive analysis of trust as a social mechanism that shapes the functioning of the healthcare system and the formation of self-preservation health practices. Drawing on classical and contemporary theoretical approaches, trust is conceptualized as a multilevel construct encompassing micro-, meso-, and macro-dimensions. At the micro level, trust is interpreted through rational choice, personal experience of interaction, and patient expectations toward physicians. At the meso level, trust is associated with the evaluation of medical organizations, the quality of services, the accessibility of care, and institutional guarantees. The macro level reflects the degree of public support for state health policy, regulatory stability, and the legitimacy of the healthcare system. The analysis demonstrates that trust is a fundamental condition for the reproduction of self-preservation practices, shaping individuals’ health-related choices, informational behavior, and willingness to follow official medical recommendations. The findings underline the importance of studying trust within an interdisciplinary and multilevel framework.