Teachers, health workers most trusted in Turkey, survey says

ISTANBUL

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Turks trust teachers and health workers the most while judges, politicians, religious leaders and journalists are among the lowest trusted professions in society, according to a recent study.

In the survey conducted among 1,000 people, 86 percent of the respondents said they trust teachers, making this profession the top of the list. The health workers are second most trusted profession on the list, with 81 percent of the respondents voicing their trust in healthcare professionals, according to a survey conducted by Turkish survey company BAREM. Trust in health workers is highest among older respondents.

BAREM’s survey was conducted in line with WIN/Gallup International’s survey conducted among 60 countries with over 61,000 people. 

The trust in military was also high among respondents, with 74 percent saying they trust the military. Some 23 percent of respondents said they do not trust the military. 

A majority of respondents voiced their trust in police officers. In total, 60 percent of respondents said they trust police officers, while 37 percent said they do not trust them. Meanwhile, the trust in police officers is higher among housewives and those living in rural areas. Trust in police officers declines with the increase of socio-economic status and education levels among the respondents, according to the survey. The trust in military is higher among men, those older than 55 and those between the ages of 18 and 24. The trust in military decreases among respondents with higher education levels, according to the survey.

 Politicians, religious leaders, bankers and journalists are on the bottom of the trust list. In total, 49 percent of respondents said they do not trust judges while 44 percent say they trust judges. 

Higher income groups and those between the ages of 18-34 trust judges less than other groups. 

In Turkey, the rate of those who trust religious leaders is 43 percent while 51 percent distrust them.

Housewives have the highest trust in religious leaders compared to the other groups. 

The politicians have the lowest trust levels among the 10 professions, according to the survey. Among respondents, 78 percent said they do not trust politicians, while 17 percent trust this profession. The trust in politicians is lower among those between the ages of 18 and 44, the employed and students. The trust in politicians increases steadily with the decrease of socio-economic status of respondents.

Some 62 percent said they do not trust bankers, while 63 percent said they do not trust journalists. Trust in businesspeople is also low, with 65 percent saying that they do not trust businesspeople.