Socious Journal
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): Journal Socious - April

Trust Crisis in Public Services: Declining Public Trust in Government Institutions

Ajeng R Indrawati (Universitas Cahaya Prima)
Andi Asrijal (Universitas Cahaya Prima)



Article Info

Publish Date
20 Apr 2026

Abstract

The decline of public trust in government institutions has emerged as a critical issue affecting the effectiveness of public service delivery. This study aims to analyze the factors contributing to the trust crisis and examine their implications for public services, focusing on institutional performance, service quality, and transparency. A mixed-method explanatory approach was employed, combining quantitative data from structured questionnaires and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative interpretation. The results indicate that institutional performance has a significant direct and indirect effect on public trust, with service quality and transparency acting as important mediating variables. Service quality and transparency also have strong positive effects on trust, highlighting the importance of responsive services and open governance. The findings reveal that poor service delivery and lack of transparency are key drivers of declining trust, while improvements in these areas can enhance public confidence. In conclusion, restoring public trust requires an integrated approach that strengthens institutional performance, improves service quality, and enhances transparency. These efforts are essential to ensure effective, accountable, and citizen-centered public service delivery.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

SJ

Publisher

Subject

Education Environmental Science Social Sciences Other

Description

The journal publishes original articles on current issues and trends occurring internationally in Public Administration, Business Administration, Communication Science, Government Science, Sociology, International Relations, geography, sociology education, geography education, tourism, community ...