Higher trait math anxiety is associated with slower arithmetic responses, with no significant accuracy cost and no speed-accuracy trade-off¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? For every unit increase in trait math anxiety, response time increases by 0.36 s. → Yao 2026 q3 i? The main effect of trait math anxiety on accuracy was only marginally significant, indicating a tendency toward more errors. → 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 B) on response times in the preregistered paradigm study of 65 adults. The trait math anxiety effect was significant (p = .017), with RT increasing "by an estimate of 0.36 s" per unit of trait math anxiety; production paradigms were also slower by 0.41 s.

"The main effect of trait math anxiety indicates that for every unit increase in trait math anxiety, the response time increases by an estimate of 0.36 s, so that individuals with higher trait math anxiety take longer to solve arithmetic."

Yao 2026 (2)¶

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

GLMM (Model C) on trial-level accuracy in the same paradigm study. The trait math anxiety effect was "marginally significant with an estimate of -0.21" (p = .053), a tendency rather than a significant effect; the discussion reports no significant accuracy relation.

"The main effect of trait math anxiety was marginally significant with an estimate of -0.21, indicating that individuals with higher math anxiety tend to make more errors in arithmetic."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The anxiety-complexity effect was replicated in response time only, with no speed-accuracy trade-off, in manageable two-digit arithmetic — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Exploratory analyses suggest heightened state math anxiety in production paradigms stems from fear of making mistakes rather than response times — related