현대 도시사회에서 지역공동체 활동과 행복 간 관계 - 일반 신뢰의 매개효과 분석

Local Community Participation and Happiness in Contemporary Urban Society : The Mediating Role of Generalized Trust

In contemporary urban societies, various communities transcend geographical boundaries. Even amid these social changes, can geographically based communities still serve as a valid factor in improving the quality of life for urban residents? Participation in local community activities provides a pathway to eudaimonic happiness and fosters generalized trust, which positively influences individual well-being through reciprocity. This study empirically examines the impact of community participation and generalized trust on the happiness of Seoul citizens using data from three years of Seoul Survey. The results show that both 2021 and 2022, community participation positively affected happiness, with generalized trust acting as a mediator. However, in 2023, while participation still increased generalized trust, it had no significant effect on happiness. Furthermore, generalized trust played a negative mediating role, reversing previous trends. This study suggests that changes in the policy environment are among the main factors contributing to these contrasting outcomes. This study empirically demonstrates that local communities still play a significant role in enhancing citizens’ quality of life in contemporary urban societies. However, to cultivate generalized trust within communities and further improve quality of life through community participation, policy interventions are required to create environments that support and sustain trust-based interactions among community members.