Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Annie McIlroy and I am from Akron, Ohio! I am currently majoring in behavioral neuroscience with minors in child development, chemistry, and international affairs with plans to graduate in December of 2025. After graduating, I hope to attend medical school.

Associations among General Anxiety, Test Anxiety, Math Anxiety, and Math Achievement in Children

Abstract

Children’s math achievement may be impacted by many factors, including different forms of anxiety. Math anxiety is a discomfort associated with math learning and math tasks and is a prevalent issue among children. Math anxiety in children is often linked to decreased math achievement. However, the extent to which math anxiety is distinct from or explains the relation between general anxiety and test anxiety with math achievement remains unclear. This study aims to examine the relations among general anxiety, test anxiety, math anxiety, and math achievement in elementary aged children, investigating whether math anxiety mediates the relation between general anxiety or test anxiety with math achievement. A sample of approximately 500 second-grade students were assessed using validated self-report measures of general anxiety and test anxiety, alongside a researcher adapted math anxiety scale at the beginning of the school year. They then completed a researcher developed math achievement assessment at the end of the school year. We hypothesize that general anxiety and test anxiety will negatively relate to math achievement and that math anxiety will mediate these relations. Understanding these associations may provide insight into the underlying mechanisms affecting the math success of elementary-aged students, which can inform interventions aimed at reducing anxiety-related barriers in the classroom.

Keywords: Anxiety, Math, Children