State math anxiety decreases across repeated measurement points during the arithmetic task, consistent with habituation¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · checked against its sources 2026-10-26 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

Reading the evidence codes

q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.

This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.

q3 i? State math anxiety decreases by an estimate of -0.11 with each repetition of the arithmetic task across six mid-task measurement points. → Yao 2026 q3 i? Individuals with higher trait math anxiety experience a slightly faster decrease in state math anxiety as the task progresses. → Yao 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Yao 2026¶

Yao, X., Huber, J.F., Li, Z., Findik, Y., Nuerk, H.-C. & Artemenko, C. (2026). The dynamics of state math anxiety vary by paradigm and timing during arithmetic. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00398-z

q3 · i? · causal · r2

LMM (Model E) on SMA ratings at six mid-task measurement points (breaks at the midpoint of each paradigm block) in the same study. The time effect was significant (p < .001), "by an estimate of -0.11", with paradigm included as a random effect.

"The main effect of time indicates that for each repetition of the arithmetic task, state math anxiety decreases over time by an estimate of -0.11."

Yao 2026 (2)¶

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Same LMM (Model E) testing the time × trait math anxiety interaction across the six mid-task points. The interaction was significant (p < .001), "with an estimate of -0.07", which the authors interpret as adaptation or emotion regulation over task progress.

"The interaction of time and trait math anxiety with an estimate of -0.07 indicates that, as time progresses, individuals with higher trait math anxiety tend to experience a decrease in state math anxiety at a slightly faster rate compared to those with lower trait math anxiety."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

Affect Regulation — outcome: instruction changes it

Production paradigms elicit higher state math anxiety than decision paradigms, particularly for individuals with high trait math anxiety — related
State math anxiety decreases linearly from pre- to post-task, with a stronger decrease for individuals with higher trait math anxiety — related
Immediate task repetition benefits oral performance, including fluency, self-correction and reduced anxiety — a broader claim this one bears on
Repeated brief VR exposures reduced state anxiety during the first two practice sessions. — a narrower finding that bears on this claim

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`claim`
`id`	`state-math-anxiety-decreases-during-task`
`title`	`State math anxiety decreases across repeated measurement points during the arithmetic task, consistent with habituation`
`description`	`State math anxiety decreases across repeated measurement points during the arithmetic task, consistent with habituation`
`status`	`review`
`evidence_strength`	`moderate`
`newest_evidence`	`2026`
`source_checked`	`2026-10-26`
`generated`	by `process:wiki-ingest` on `2026-10-26`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	2 — `yao-2026`, `yao-2026-2`

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