Math anxiety relates more strongly to Mathematical Reasoning than to Numerical Operations in second and third graders¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies · 2 associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2012 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Math anxiety significantly and negatively correlated with Mathematical Reasoning (β = −0.34, p < 0.001) but not Numerical Operations (β = −0.18, p = 0.17) after controlling for trait anxiety and FSIQ. → Wu SS 2012 q3 i? When the two highest SEMA rating categories were collapsed, math anxiety correlated significantly with both subtests, with a significantly stronger effect on Mathematical Reasoning (z = −3.65, p < 0.0001). → Wu SS 2012 (2)

Evidence¶

Wu SS 2012¶

Wu SS, Barth M, Amin H, Malcarne V and Menon V (2012) Math anxiety in second and third graders and its relation to mathematics achievement. Front. Psychology 3:162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00162

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Hierarchical regression analyses of the 162-child sample on the two WIAT-II math subtests, controlling for trait anxiety and FSIQ. The article reports the printed β, t, p and R2 values for each subtest; the initial slope comparison was not significant (z = −1.10, p = 0.13).

"math anxiety was significantly and negatively correlated with Mathematical Reasoning [ β =− 0.34, t (127) =− 3.66, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.57] but not with Numerical Operations [β =− 0.18, t (127) =− 1.37, p = 0.17, R2 = 0.23]."

Wu SS 2012 (2)¶

Wu SS, Barth M, Amin H, Malcarne V and Menon V (2012) Math anxiety in second and third graders and its relation to mathematics achievement. Front. Psychology 3:162. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00162

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Sensitivity analysis collapsing the "Very Nervous" and "Very Very Nervous" rating categories and recalculating SEMA scores. A difference of slopes test suggested "math anxiety has a significantly stronger effect on Mathematical Reasoning (z = −3.65, p < 0.0001)".

"This analyses indi- cated that SEMA was significantly correlated with both Mathe- matical Reasoning ( ρ =− 0.48, p < 0.001) and Numerical Oper- ations ρ =− 0.26, p < 0.01), even after controlling for FSIQ and trait anxiety."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Academic Anxiety — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
• Affect Regulation — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Math anxiety is significantly negatively correlated with math achievement in second and third graders, independent of trait anxiety and IQ — related
• Math anxiety is not significantly correlated with reading achievement in young children — related
• Math anxiety has both a direct negative effect and a WM-mediated indirect effect on children's verbal Math Reasoning, but only an indirect effect on Numerical Operations — related
• Reading comprehension significantly predicts verbal Math Reasoning but not non-verbal Numerical Operations — related
• Both SEMA subscales — numerical and situational anxiety — are equally negatively related to math achievement — related
• Math anxiety is not significantly correlated with trait anxiety in young children — related
• Math anxiety predicts mathematics achievement in linear regression (R2=.357) — related
• Math anxiety correlates strongly and negatively with mathematics achievement among third graders — a broader claim this one bears on
• Math Reasoning is more strongly correlated with reading comprehension than Numerical Operations is, and the two math measures are highly correlated — related
• Mathematics achievement correlates more strongly with learners' knowledge, skills and cognitive abilities than with their personality traits, goals or emotions — a broader claim this one bears on