Work

How is anxiety related to math performance in young students? A longitudinal study of Grade 2 to Grade 3 children

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Both general and math-specific anxiety are related to proficiency in mathematics. However, it is not clear when math anxiety arises in young children, nor how it relates to early math performance. This study therefore investigated the early association between math anxiety and math performance in Grades 2 and 3, by accounting for general anxiety and by further inspecting the prevalent directionality of the anxiety-performance link. Results revealed that this link was significant in Grade 3, with a prevalent direction from math anxiety to performance, rather than the reverse. Longitudinal analyses also showed an indirect effect of math anxiety in Grade 2 on subsequent math performance in Grade 3. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of monitoring anxiety from the early stages of schooling in order to promote proficient academic performance.

Source: Cognition & Emotion

DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2016.1147421

Authors: Elisa Cargnelutti, Carlo Tomasetto, Maria Chiara Passolunghi

Institutions: University of Trieste, University of Bologna

Language: English

Topic: Education, Achievement, and Giftedness

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Università degli Studi di Trieste