A meta-analysis of the relation between math anxiety and math achievement.

2020/10/29 by Connie Barroso, Colleen M. Ganley, Amanda L. McGraw +4 · 543 citations
Mathematics · Psychology · #Academic achievement #Anxiety #Association (psychology) #Clinical psychology #Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills #Developmental psychology #Education, Achievement, and Giftedness #Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation #MEDLINE #Mathematical anxiety #Moderation #PsycINFO #Psychology #Relation (database) #Social psychology

paper · doi:10.1037/bul0000307

published in Psychological Bulletin 147(2), 134-168 (American Psychological Association)

openalex publication_date 2020/10/29 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

= -.28) between math anxiety and math achievement. The relation was significant for all moderator subgroups, with the exception of the relation between math anxiety and assessments measuring the approximate number system. Grade level, math ability level, adolescent/adult math anxiety scales, math topic of anxiety scale, and math assessments were significant moderators of this relation. There is also a tendency for published studies to report significantly stronger correlations than unpublished studies, but overall, large, negative effect sizes are underreported. Our results are consistent with previous findings of a significant relation between math anxiety and math achievement. This association starts in childhood, remains significant through adulthood, is smaller for students in Grades 3 through 5 and postsecondary school, is larger for math anxiety than for statistics anxiety and for certain math anxiety scales, and is smaller for math exam grades and samples selected for low math ability. This work supports future research efforts to determine effective math achievement and math anxiety interventions, which may be most helpful to implement during childhood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Citations

• Trim and Fill: A Simple Funnel‐Plot–Based Method of Testing and Adjusting for Publication Bias in Meta‐Analysis
• Cognitive and Emotional Components of Test Anxiety: A Distinction and Some Initial Data

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