The Role of Socio-Demographic Patterns in Shaping Environmental Beliefs with Mediation of population growth and health: A case of selected European countries

Abstract

The present research focuses on the impact of socio-demographic factors on environmental beliefs (awareness) with a specific focus on the mediation and moderation effects of population growth and health spending in the context of selected European countries. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) results indicate that the higher the per capita GDP, health care expenditures, and level of education, the stronger the pro-environmental attitudes. Health expenditures, in particular, raise awareness of the environmental risks, while education increases comprehension of environmental matters. Urbanization, on the other hand, has a negative relationship with pro-environmental attitudes, which means that urban growth might have incidental adverse effects on sustainable practices. The analysis utilizes data from the World Values Survey (Wave 7), which is an extensive dataset that comprises multiple countries and several socio-demographic variables. The analysis indicates that it is possible to enhance environmental awareness through policies that nurture health care, education, and neighborhood sustainable development. Such outcomes are crucial in the context of developing and implementing environmental strategies concerned with socio-economically heterogeneous populations that should also guarantee their overall viability.

Keywords: Environmental Awareness, Socio-demographic Patterns, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), European Countries.