Trust in scientific institutions and experts during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland

Abstract

Aims: To explore variations in trust in science and scientific institutions in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the factors influencing trust in experts of a key institution in the management of the pandemic, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). These results are contrasted with trust in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Methods: Five surveys were conducted between April 2020 and March 2022 (n=5448). The changes were tested with the chi-square test. Predictors of trust in THL and the ministry was examined with binary logistic regression. Results: Trust in science and key scientific institutions remained consistently high throughout this period. In the early pandemic, trust in the ministry declined. The most significant explanatory factors for trust in THL and the ministry were being a supporter of some other party than the right-wing Finns Party and belonging to the age groups over 50 years. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the pandemic, marked by unpredictability, did not weaken trust in science and THL, whereas trust in the ministry responsible for managing the pandemic and university experts weakened. In increasingly politically polarised societies, the impact of political sentiments on health-related perceptions and choices should be analysed more in future public health studies.