Gender Differences in School Effects on Adolescent Life Satisfaction: Exploring Cross-National Variation

Abstract

Abstract Background Levels and drivers of adolescent life satisfaction (LS) vary across nations. School is known to be an important aspect of life affecting adolescent LS, but there are gender differences in how schools may influence LS. However, little is known about how these gender differences vary across countries. Objective A series of statistical analyses (bivariate associations, multilevel regression, and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analyses) using PISA 2015 data on 15-year-old students in 33 countries. Method A series of statistical analyses (bivariate associations, multilevel regression, and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analyses) using PISA 2015 data on 15-year-old students in 33 countries. Results Girls report lower overall LS than boys on average in all the countries studied. Various cross-national patterns emerge regarding the role of schools. Although school is a life domain in which experiences related to overall LS tend to be more negative among boys than among girls (mainly via bullying and relationships with teachers), the opposite is observed for a few school-related factors (notably school anxiety). Furthermore, in some countries, the gender gap in overall LS varies across schools, which suggests that schools would play an important role in shaping students’ LS in different ways for girls and boys. Despite some cross-national patterns, substantial cross-country variation is also observed. Conclusion The study of adolescent LS in schools may benefit from more nuanced approaches that account for cross-cultural differences in how schools may promote the subjective well-being of girls and boys in different ways.