Trust Dynamics in Health Scientists Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic

One of the largest lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the public’s overall change in trust in scientific authorities and communications. This study aimed to investigate the evolution of public trust in scientists during the pandemic by quantifying the change and identifying factors that influenced its erosion or maintenance. These findings are part of the larger study titled the  Trust Dynamics and Equity in Public Health Project, led by the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net). The study found that age, gender, ethnicity, spirituality, place of residence, education, and socioeconomic status all had a significant connection with whether an individual experienced a change in trust in scientists since the pandemic. Further research in this project’s qualitative phase will reveal areas for improvement in policy to aid the rebuilding of trust in our scientific community.