OLS will partially mediate the relationship between gender equality and the STEM gender gap. 

Hypothesis: OLS & STEM Gender Gap

OLS scores come from the United Nations Development Programme and measure the overall life satisfaction levels of citizens based on a 0-10 ladder scale (0 represents the worst possible life, 10 represents the best). They are asked to select the rung of the ladder (1-10) that corresponds to where they consider their life quality right now. 

Overall Life Satisfaction Measurement Instrument

- Economic opportunities include wealth/financial building resources. 
- Economic hardship is the lack of such opportunities. 

Economic Opportunity & Hardship

- Social well-being is the quality of one's relationships with others and society.
- Personal well-being is the quality of one's own life (satisfaction, regulations, vitality, self esteem, etc. )

Social & Personal Well-being

OLS is accepted as a proxy for:
- economic opportunity and hardship
- social/personal well-being

San Jose State University

- Societal gender equality level
- Overall Life Satisfaction (OLS)
- Familial influence 

Distal Social Factors that Influence Gender Gap in STEM Education

Pittau, M. G., Zelli, R., & Gelman, A. (2010). Economic disparities and life satisfaction in European regions. Social Indicators Research, 96, 339–361.

Economic disparities and life satisfaction in European regions

Countries with higher levels of gender equality (measured by the World
Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index) have greater gender gaps in STEM education at high school and university levels (measured by UNESCO national education statistics). 

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