Development of the Trust Pathway and Distrust Pathway Models

Student trust relates to affect, engagement, and performance, yet the literature lacks a process model that links events to downstream outcomes. Affective events theory was applied to focus group data from 77 baccalaureate nursing students who described events that led them to trust or distrust an instructor and their subsequent affective reactions, attitudes, affect-driven behaviors, and perceived impact on performance. Two models emerged. The Trust Pathway and Distrust Pathway Models provide a temporal depiction of how instructor actions are appraised and translated into learning‑relevant behaviors that influence performance. The models identify leverage points for building or repairing trust.