Attitudes toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and civic engagement among Spanish university students: the mediational role of flourishing.

The objective of the present study was to examine the mediating effect of flourishing on the relationship between positive attitudes toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and civic engagement among university students from Andalusia, Spain. A total of 215 students participated (51 men, 164 women). SPSS PROCESS Macro (Model 4) with bootstrapping (95% CI) was used to determine the mediation effect between variables. Additionally, Spearman's correlations, common method bias, and internal consistency of the scales were assessed; Harman's single-factor test confirmed that common method bias was not a threat (accounting for only 22.43% of the variance), and all measurement scales exhibited robust internal consistency (alpha ≥ 0.76). Results indicated that attitudes toward SDGs significantly predict civic engagement (β = 0.315, p < 0.01), maintaining a direct effect after including flourishing (β = 0.212, p < 0.01). Flourishing mediates this relationship (indirect effect = 0.103), accounting for 32.7% of the total effect. It is concluded that pro-SDG attitudes foster civic engagement both directly and through flourishing. Interventions promoting psychological wellbeing can enhance sustainability-oriented civic participation among university students.