Socio-demographic factors involved in the relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement: an umbrella review

Authors

Keywords:

MATHEMATICS ANXIETY, MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE, UMBRELLA REVIEW, OBSERVATORY OF NEUROSCIENCES AND NEURODEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

Introduction: several studies provide evidence on the negative association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement. However, there is no consensus on the factors that moderate this relationship. The present research synthesized the results in relation to the association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement, as well as certain variables that influence this link.

Methods: an umbrella review of meta-analyses conducted between 2015-2022, including a total of 505 studies.

Discussion: the results confirm the negative association between math anxiety and mathematics achievement. This relationship extends from elementary school to adulthood, and is not specific to the academic context. Weaker correlations are established during primary school samples, while the strongest correlations are identified in secondary school and pre-university groups. This association is not influenced by gender, and varies between geographic regions. Specifically, it was stronger in Asian students, compared to European and American students.

Conclusions: the results suggest the need of future research efforts to design actions for the early identification of children at risk of math anxiety and support them, in order to increase their performance in this domain of knowledge in academic and everyday life settings where Mathematics is relevant for decision making and individual success. It also contributes elements to the debate on MA as a specific anxiety disorder and its inclusion in the diagnostic manuals of mental disorders.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Eysenck MW, Derakshan N, Santos R, Calvo MG. Anxiety and cognitive performance: Attentional control theory. Emotion [Internet]. 2007 [citado 20/05/2022]; 7(2): 336-53. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17516812/

2. Polanczyk GV, Salum GA, Sugaya LS, Caye A, Rohde LA. Annual research review: A meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of mental disorders in children and adolescents. J Child Psychol Psychiatry[Internet]. marzo de 2015 [citado 20/05/2022]; 56(3): 345-65. Disponible en: https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpp.12381

3. Unicef. Estado mundial de la infancia 2021. En mi mente: promover, proteger y cuidar la salud mental de la infancia [Internet]. Unicef; 2021 [citado 20/05/2022]. Disponible en: https://www.unicef.org/es/informes/estado-mundial-de-la-infancia-2021

4. Hembree R. The Nature, Effects, and Relief of Mathematics Anxiety. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education [Internet].1990[citado 20/05/2022]; 21(1):33-46. Disponible en: https://www.jstor.org/stable/749455

5. Luttenberger S, Wimmer S, Paechter M. Spotlight on math anxiety. Psychology Research and Behavior Management [Internet].2018 [citado 20/05/2022];11:311-22.Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6087017/

6. Carey E, Hill F, Devine A, Szűcs D. The Chicken or the Egg? The Direction of the Relationship Between Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematics Performance. Frontiers in Psychology [Internet].7 de enero de 2016 [citado 20/05/2022];6(1987).Disponible en: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2016-18624-001

7. Lau NTT, Hawes Z, Tremblay P, Ansari D. Disentangling the individual and contextual effects of math anxiety: A global perspective. ProcNatlAcadSci U S A[Internet].15 de febrero de 2022 [citado 20/05/2022];119(7):e2115855119. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35131942/

8. OECD. Panorama de la educación 2013: Indicadores de la OCDE [Internet]. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; 2014 [citado 23/05/2022]. Disponible en: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/panorama-de-la-educacion-2013-indicadores-de-la-ocde_eag-2013-es

9. Richardson FC, Suinn RM. The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale: Psychometric data. Journal of Counseling Psychology [Internet].1972 [citado 20/05/2022];19(6):551-4. Disponible en: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1973-05788-001

10. Spielberger CD. Anxiety: Current trends in theory and research: I. Oxford, England: Academic Press; 1972. xvi, 237 p.

11. Kohn J, Richtmann V, Rauscher L. Das Mathematikangstinterview (MAI): Erste psychometrische Gütekriterien [Math Anxiety Interview (MAI): First Psychometric Properties]. Lernen und Lernstörungen [Internet].2013 [citado 20/05/2022];2(3):177-89. Disponible en: https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1024/2235-0977/a000040

12. Ma X. A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Anxiety toward Mathematics and Achievement in Mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education[Internet].1999[citado 20/05/2022];30(5): 520-540. Disponible en: https://www.jstor.org/stable/749772

13. Hill F, Mammarella IC, Devine A, Caviola S, Passolunghi MC, Szűcs D. Maths anxiety in primary and secondary school students: Gender differences, developmental changes and anxiety specificity. Learning and Individual Differences[Internet].2016 [citado 20/05/2022];48:45-53.Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608016300164

14. Chambergo-Michilot D, Diaz-Barrera ME, Benites-Zapata VA. Revisiones de alcance, revisiones paraguas y síntesis enfocada en revisión de mapas: aspectos metodológicos y aplicaciones. RevPeruMedExp Salud Publica[Internet].2021 [citado 20/05/2022];38(1): 136-142. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.org.pe/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1726-46342021000100136

15. OMS. Salud sexual [Internet]. 2022 [citado 25/11/2022]. Disponible en: https://www.who.int/es/health-topics/sexual-health

16. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. BMJ[Internet]. 21 de julio de 2009 [citado 25/11/2022];6(7):e1000097. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19621072/

17. Young CB, Wu SS, Menon V. The Neurodevelopmental Basis of Math Anxiety. Psychological Science[Internet].2012 [citado 25/11/2022];23(5): 492–501. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3462591/

18. Krinzinger H, Kaufmann L, Willmes K. Math Anxiety and Math Ability in Early Primary School Years. J Psychoeduc Assess[Internet]. junio de 2009 [citado 25/11/2022];27(3):206-25. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2853710/

19. Thomas G, Dowker A. Mathematics anxiety and related factors in young children. En Bristol; 2000.

20. Wu SS, Barth M, Amin H, Malcarne V, Menon V. Math anxiety in second and third graders and its relation to mathematics achievement. Frontiers in Psychology [Internet].2012 [citado 25/11/2022]; 3:162. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22701105/

21. Olmez I, Ozel S. Mathematics anxiety among sixth and seventh grade turkish elementary school students. ProcSocBehavSci [Internet]. 2012 [citado 25/11/2022]; 46: 4933-4937.Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042812020988

22. Lang PJ. Fear reduction and fear behavior: Problems in treating a construct. En: Research in psychotherapy. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association; 1968. p. 90-102.

23. Namkung JM, Peng P, Lin X. The Relation Between Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematics Performance Among School-Aged Students: A Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research [Internet]. 2019 [citado 25/11/2022]; 89(3). Disponible en: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0034654319843494?journalCode=rera

24. Young JR, Young JL. Anxious for Answers: A Meta-Analysis of the E!ects of Anxiety on African American K-12 Students’ Mathematics Achievement. JOURNAL OF MATHE MATICS EDUCATION AT TEACHERS COLLEGE [Internet]. 2015 [citado 25/11/2022]; 6(2). Disponible en: https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/jmetc/article/view/611

25. Caviola S, Toffalini E, Giofrè D, Mercader Ruiz J, Szűcs D, Mammarella IC. Math Performance and Academic Anxiety Forms, from Sociodemographic to Cognitive Aspects: a Meta-analysis on 906,311 Participants. Educational Psychology Review [Internet]. 2022 [citado 25/11/2022]; 34: 363-99. Disponible en: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-021-09618-5

26. Barroso C, Ganley CM, McGraw AL, Geer EA, Hart SA, Daucourt MC. A meta-analysis of the relation between math anxiety and math achievement. Psychol Bull [Internet]. 2021 [citado 25/11/2022]; 147(2): 134-68. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33119346/

27. Zhang J, Zhao N, Kong QP. The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation. Frontiers in Psychology [Internet]. 2019 [citado 25/11/2022]; 10:1613. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31447719/

Published

2023-09-20

How to Cite

1.
Crespo-Díaz LM, Hernández-Aguilar B, Gaya-Vázquez JA, Alomá-Bello M, Nuñez-Raventós S del R, Estévez-Pérez N. Socio-demographic factors involved in the relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement: an umbrella review. Rev Ciencias Médicas [Internet]. 2023 Sep. 20 [cited 2025 Nov. 10];27:e5941. Available from: https://revcmpinar.sld.cu/index.php/publicaciones/article/view/5941