Institutional trust, socio-demographic background, and romantic relationship permission in a transforming community: the case of Arab society in Israel

The goal of this study was to understand whether institutional trust and socio-demographic background are linked to permitting single women to have a boyfriend. This examination was performed using the data collected in a society where traditionalist views regarding union formation are becoming gradually relaxed. Data were obtained from the 2021 “Still Playing by the Rules” nationwide survey conducted in Israel and analyzed using logistic regression model. The sample included responses of 709 Arab citizens. The findings show that greater institutional trust was associated with an increased likelihood of permitting a young single Arab woman to have a boyfriend. Female gender, younger age, Christian religious affiliation, lower extent of religiosity, and residence in ethnically mixed locality were also associated with greater likelihood of boyfriend permission. The results suggest that ethnic minority’s greater trust in state institutions corresponds with less traditionalist approach toward romantic relationships established by younger persons belonging to this minority. They also suggest that belonging to different demographic and religious population categories is associated with the varying approach regarding the studied phenomenon.