Sociology Research in Slovenia and Europe
Vaccine Hesitancy, Political Participation & Climate Literacy
Research by Prof. Andrej Kirbiš, PhD
University of Maribor · Faculty of Arts · Slovenia
My research examines political participation and polarization, health sociology, vaccine hesitancy and health literacy, youth studies, environmental attitudes and behaviour, cultural participation, volunteering, and civic engagement in Slovenia and across Europe. I use quantitative methods including multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling, cross-lagged panel analysis, and comparative and longitudinal survey designs.
Research Topics
My empirical research programme spans political behaviour, health attitudes, youth, environmental engagement, and civic life, grounded in comparative and longitudinal quantitative methods.
Affective and ideological polarization, political trust, democratic engagement, cross-national comparisons.
Vaccination attitudes, health literacy, trust in science and healthcare, health inequalities, longitudinal dynamics.
Dietary patterns and behaviour, substance use, mental health, socioeconomic position, education, and health outcomes.
Political orientation and participation among youth, health, values, educational inequalities, and cross-national differences.
Climate knowledge, pro-environmental behaviour, sustainable diets, environmental participation, and cross-national research.
Cultural engagement, volunteering determinants and barriers, social capital, participation inequalities, and civic engagement in Slovenia and Europe.
Comparative and longitudinal survey research; cross-national analysis, panel data, multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling, cross-lagged panel analysis, mediation and moderation, latent profile analysis.
Recent Publications
Five selected recent peer-reviewed journal articles. Additional selected publications are available on the Publications page.
-
2026
Kirbiš, A., & Branilović, S. Perceived ideological polarization, trust in science and healthcare, and COVID-19 vaccination intention: A four-wave cross-lagged mediation panel analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 394, 119057.
doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119057 -
2026
Kirbiš, A., Lubej, M., & Branilović, S. From political news consumption to political participation: The mediating role of ideological polarization across 24 countries. International Journal of Sociology.
doi.org/10.1080/00207659.2026.2667737 -
2026
Lubej, M., Dolezal, M., & Kirbiš, A. The impact of affective polarization on political participation: A systematic review. Political Studies, 74(2), 525–548.
doi.org/10.1177/00323217251338496 -
2026
Penker, M., & Kirbiš, A. Extending the civic voluntarism model: A cross-national study of environmental public sphere behavior. Heliyon, 12(1), e44242.
doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e44242 -
2026
Lamot, M., Kirbiš, A., & Kerman, K. Are individuals with persistently high conspiracy mentality also persistently vaccine-hesitant? Findings from a three-wave panel study. Social Science & Medicine, 388, 118770.
doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118770
Research Projects
Current and recently completed funded research projects.