Mathematics anxiety: Effects of age, gender and culture.

to general feelings such as liking/disliking of mathematics, nor is it meant to exclude perceptions of the difficulty, usefulness, and appropriateness of mathematics as a school subject. There are several ways affective variables are related to mathematics learning. It is likely that a student who feels very positive about mathematics will achieve at a higher level than a student who has a negative attitude toward mathematics. It is also likely that a high achiever will enjoy mathematics more than a student who

Debate has continued throughout the last decade over the existence and possible causes of differences between males' and females' mathematical skills. Several observations recur as the focus of this controversy. First, adolescent boys have been found to score higher than girls on standardized mathematics achievement tests.' Second, males are more likely than females to engage in a variety of optional activities related to mathematics, from technical hobbies to careers in which math skills play an important role.2 Third, adolescent males typically perform better than their female

Hearing loss can be a major detriment to academic achievement among students. The present comparative study examines the differences in mathematics motivation, anxiety, and performance in female students with hearing loss and their hearing peers. A total of 63 female students with hearing loss (deaf and hard-of-hearing) and 63 hearing female students were selected to participate in the study. The two groups of students were matched in terms of the city of residence, academic year, academic grade, and age. The Mathematics Motivation Scale and the Mathematics Anxiety Survey were used for data collection. The students’ mathematics scores in the first and second semesters of school were used as indicators of their mathematics performance. The data obtained were analyzed using the MANOVA. The results of the study showed a higher intrinsic goal orientation in both hard-of-hearing and hearing students than in the deaf students; extrinsic goal orientation was higher in the deaf and hard-of-hearing students than in the hearing students; and task value, control belief, and mathematics self-efficacy were lower in the deaf and hard-of-hearing students than in the hearing students. The findings of the study also showed that mathematics test anxiety and mathematics anxiety were higher in the hard-of-hearing and deaf students than in their hearing peers. Moreover, mathematics performance was higher in the hearing students than in their deaf and hard-of-hearing peers.

Today mathematics stress have considered under interesting of many psychologists of mathematics education and cognitive psychologists too so that recognize emotion and mental stimulations of students in mathematics and to find scientific strategies for removing and controlling them. Anxiety is one of important and effective issues of 21th century. This study is done with aim of the study of relationship between mothers' anxiety with mathematics performance and anxiety of their children at first grade of high school at zone one of Tehran. Among population, 97 students and their mothers are chosen. Data of this research are collected by Cattell standard questionnaire for studying mothers' anxiety and standard questionnaire of mathematics anxiety for studying mathematics anxiety and a math exam for studying of students' performance. Research findings indicate that there is significant relationship between mothers' anxiety with mathematics anxiety and performance of students. Also it indicated that there is significant difference between students with high and low mathematics anxiety in term of mathematics performance.

The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance is well established. However, factors such as how math anxiety is operationalized, the specific mathematical domain, gender, and cultural context may influence this relationship. Still, these factors have not been considered together and the results in primary school students have been inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to investigate how math anxiety is related to arithmetic fluency and number processing in fourth-grade students across three cultural contexts (Finnish- and Swedish-speaking students from Finland and Swedish-speaking students from Sweden). In addition, we investigated the dimensionality of math anxiety (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions) and gender differences in the level of and relations between math anxiety and mathematics performance. The sample included 1022 fourth-grade students (52.6% girls) from Finland and Sweden. The participants completed a survey measuring their math anxiety and a mathematics performance test (arithmetic fluency and number processing). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-dimensional math anxiety construct for the Finnish-speaking sample and a unidimensional math anxiety construct for the Swedish-speaking samples. The negative math anxiety–performance relationship was demonstrated in each sample, showing a slightly stronger association for arithmetic fluency than number processing. On average girls experienced higher levels of math anxiety and boys had better arithmetic fluency. The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance, especially for number processing, was stronger for boys. The results highlight the relationships between math anxiety and mathematics performance in fourth-grade students in Finland and Sweden. More research considering cultural (e.g., language) and gender differences is needed.

The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance is well established. However, factors such as how math anxiety is operationalized, the specific mathematical domain, gender, and cultural context may influence this relationship. Still, these factors have not been considered together and the results in primary school students have been inconsistent. Thus, this study aimed to investigate how math anxiety is related to arithmetic fluency and number processing in fourth-grade students across three cultural contexts (Finnish- and Swedish-speaking students from Finland and Swedish-speaking students from Sweden). In addition, we investigated the dimensionality of math anxiety (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions) and gender differences in the level of and relations between math anxiety and mathematics performance. The sample included 1022 fourth-grade students (52.6% girls) from Finland and Sweden. The participants completed a survey measuring their math anxiety and a mathematics performance test (arithmetic fluency and number processing). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-dimensional math anxiety construct for the Finnish-speaking sample and a unidimensional math anxiety construct for the Swedish-speaking samples. The negative math anxiety-performance relationship was demonstrated in each sample, showing a slightly stronger association for arithmetic fluency than number processing. On average girls experienced higher levels of math anxiety and boys had better arithmetic fluency. The negative relationship between math anxiety and mathematics performance, especially for number processing, was stronger for boys. The results highlight the relationships between math anxiety and mathematics performance in fourth-grade students in Finland and Sweden. More research considering cultural (e.g., language) and gender differences is needed.

Mathematics anxiety and attitude have a great influence on mathematics performance. This article presents an analysis of the relationship between Mathematics anxiety, attitude and performance. The study adopted a correlational research design. The analysis is based on the responses of 367 students who were randomly selected from 55 secondary schools. An adapted Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Attitude towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) were used. The performance grades for the students were also gathered from the teachers whereby the list that contained the students’ marks also contained the admission numbers of the students for easier linkage with the individual student questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the scatter plot diagram to give the outline of the relationship and Spearman’s correlation coefficient to find out whether there is a significant relationship between Mathematics anxiety, Mathematics attitude and performance. There was a positive significant linear relationship between Mathematics anxiety and Mathematics attitude (r= 0.538, p< 0.05). There was a negative significant linear relationship between Mathematics performance and Mathematics anxiety (r= -0.723, p< 0.05).  This shows that Mathematics attitude correlates with Mathematics anxiety which later correlates with Mathematics performance of the students, hence the two variables should be given appropriate attention to produce better and positive results in terms of performance.   Key words: Mathematics anxiety, Mathematics attitude, Mathematics performance.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between teacher characteristics and both mathematics anxiety and mathematics performance among secondary school students. Methods and Materials: Employing a descriptive-correlational research design, the study focused on a statistical population of high school students in Mysore, India. A sample of 400 students was selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Participants completed the Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS), a mathematics achievement test (comprising problem-solving and calculation questions), and a teacher demographic questionnaire (including teacher age, education, and years of experience). Data were analyzed using multiple regression techniques. Findings: The findings indicated that teacher characteristics (age, education, and years of experience) were significantly negatively correlated with mathematics anxiety, while demonstrating a significant positive correlation with mathematics performance. Additionally, multivariate regression analysis revealed that the combination of these teacher characteristics serves as a strong predictor of both mathematics anxiety and mathematics performance. Conclusion: In light of these results and the importance of teachers' educational qualifications in influencing mathematics anxiety and performance, it is recommended that teacher preparation and employment practices prioritize candidates with higher educational degrees. Furthermore, all teachers should receive comprehensive training in general, specialized, and pedagogical subjects through universities or other teacher preparation institutions.

: Mathematics attainment has taken on a global focus for the furtherance of economic advancement, thus, magnetizing for the appraisal of mathematical edification among school students. However, evidence suggests that mathematics anxiety is a salient contributing factor that obstructs success in mathematics. Drawing upon the evidence, this investigation explores the relationship between mathematics anxiety, performance and strategies that students perceived that could attenuate mathematics anxiety. Data from this study was collected using the mixed method approach of a survey and interview from forty-two Form One students with different levels of academic achievements from one school in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia. All participants demonstrated a moderate level of mathematics anxiety. However, students from the low performance level displayed inverse and strong relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematics performance. This indicates that mathematics performance declines with augmented mathematics anxiety. The linear regression revealed that all the three factors of emotion, assessment, and environment are not statistically significant predictors of mathematics achievement. Regardless, emotion has been discerned as a significant predictor of mathematics anxiety for high performance group of students. The interview revealed that students perceive games, cooperative groups, teaching aids, demonstration, rewards, and teachers with positive classroom attitude have contributed to overcoming mathematics anxiety. Results from this study suggest a strong relationship between anxiety and mathematics performance among low performing students which further indicated the importance for mathematics teachers to vary their teaching and learning activities in assisting students to cope with mathematics anxiety.

This paper attempts to compare students ’academic performance in mathematics on the basis of their level of mathematics anxiety. Moreover, students ’IQand SES are known to influence their academic performance in mathematics. Fence students ’IQand SES are included as control variables whose effect from academic performance in mathematics was removed statistically and then it was compared on the basis of the level of students ’mathematics anxiety was studied. The participants of the study included 703 students of standard 8th from S.S.C board schools. Mathematics anxiety was measured using Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MARS-I) by Karimi (2008). Students ’final examination marks in mathematics subject were considered as academic performance scores of mathematics. Results indicated that there is a significant difference in academic performance of students by mathematics anxiety. There is no significant difference in academic performance of students by mathematics anxiety when an effect of IQhas been removed statistically. This implies that the difference in students ’academic performance in mathematics on the basis of their mathematics anxiety arose on account of their IQrather than their mathematics anxiety. There is significant difference in academ ic performance of students by mathematics anxiety when effect of SES has been removed statistically. It may be concluded that the academic performance of students with low mathematics anxiety is significantly greater than that of students with moderate mathematics anxiety after controlling for their SES. The findings of the study would enable teachers to develop programmes to facilitate academic performance of students from different SES backgrounds and with different levels of IQ

<p style="text-align:justify">This study examined the impact of modular distance learning on students' motivation, interest/attitude, anxiety and achievement in mathematics. This was done at the Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines during the first and second grading of the academic year 2021-2022. The study included both a descriptive-comparative and descriptive-correlational research design. The 207 high school students were chosen using stratified sampling. According to the findings, students have a very satisfactory rating in mathematics. Students agree that they are motivated, enthusiastic, and have a positive attitude toward mathematics. They do, however, agree that mathematics causes them anxiety. When students are subdivided based on sex, their mathematics interest and anxiety differ significantly. However, there was no significant difference in interest/attitude and achievement. When students are divided into age groups, their mathematics motivation, interest/attitude, anxiety, and achievement differ significantly. Students' motivation, anxiety, and achievement differ significantly by year level. There was a positive relationship between and among mathematics motivation, interest/attitude, and achievement. However, there is a negative association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics motivation; mathematics anxiety and mathematical interest/attitude; and mathematics anxiety and mathematical performance. The study's theoretical and practical implications were also discussed, and recommendations for educators and researchers were given.</p>

Parents’ math anxiety and mathematics performance of pre-kindergarten children

This study aimed to explore age and gender differences in motivational (mathematics value and self-concept), emotional (mathematics anxiety), and cognitive (learning strategies and performance) aspects of mathematics functioning in a large representative sample of Croatian students (N = 2749; 56% girls, mean age = 14.58) during the transition from elementary to high school. The students’ values and self-concept in mathematics, mathematics anxiety, and perceived use of mathematics learning strategies were assessed using online self-report questionnaires. Teacher-created tasks were used for performance assessment. The results revealed a decrease in mathematics motivation and performance during school transition. Older students valued mathematics less than younger students, had less positive mathematics self-concept, less frequently used learning strategies, and had lower mathematics performance. No main effect of age/grade on mathematics anxiety was found. Boys had a more positive mathematics self-concept but used learning strategies less often than girls. Moreover, interaction effects of age and gender were found. High school girls showed lower performance but higher anxiety than boys. Future research should focus on examining the efficiency of interventions tailored to prevent a decline in mathematics motivation and performance during the transition periods, especially for girls.

Over the last decade, Canadian students have exhibited insubstantial improvements in mathematical scores compared to other countries as indicated by large-scale educational assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). In relation to students’ mathematical performance, math anxiety - the feeling of fear or nervousness when performing math-related tasks - was found as an associated factor. However, no previous study has explored math performance and math anxiety, specifically among Albertan students. We present a work-in-progress that identifies significant predictors of math performance and math anxiety among Canadian and Albertan students, using the PISA 2018 and TIMSS 2019 datasets. This study has three phases: first, a list of predictors will be selected from the data set based on existing theories regarding students’ math performance and math anxiety. The initial list of predictors will be presented to domain experts (i.e., math teachers) for refinement based on their practical experience. A predictive model for math performance and math anxiety will be developed with Educational Data Mining techniques in the second phase. Results from the model will be presented to the domain experts for their inputs as the qualitative component, and variable importance metrics of the model will be consulted for the quantitative component. Findings from both components will be integrated consulted with the domain experts to derive actionable recommendations that would inform various stakeholders (e.g., educators, school districts, and Alberta Education) of ways to improve math performance in Alberta students.

This paper examined the relationship between Mathematics anxiety, Mathematics performances and overall academic performance in high school students. 424 (111 males and 113 females) of high school students from three states in South India, responded to a Mathematics Anxiety Scale and Socio Demographic Questionnaire. The effects of gender on Mathematics anxiety, Mathematics performance and overall academic performance were examined and after data collection Pearson Correlation Analysis and two Independent Sample T test were used to analyze the data. Consequences reveal that Mathematics Anxiety significantly has negative correlation with Mathematics performances and overall academic performance. Moreover it was found that there is significant gender difference in Mathematics anxiety, whereas there is no significant difference between boys and girls in Mathematics performances and academic performance.