Mathematics anxiety (MA), characterized by tension, nervousness, and worry during mathematical activities, is consistently associated with lower mathematical performance (MP) across cultures. Understanding the nature of MA requires determining the stability of its individual differences and addressing the longstanding question of whether MA precedes MP, MP precedes MA, or if they influence each other reciprocally. This meta-analysis synthesized evidence from 67 independent samples across 62 reports, including 39,935 participants and 948 effect sizes. A multilevel meta-analytic approach estimated the longitudinal stability of MA, revealing high-rank-order stability (r = .49, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.43, .55]) that increased with age and decreased with test–retest interval length. A meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach was used to estimate the prospective relationships between MA and MP in a cross-lagged model. The results showed bidirectional links of similar magnitude: prior MA predicted subsequent MP (b = −.11, 95% CI [−.14, −.07]), and prior MP predicted subsequent MA (b = −.12, 95% CI [−.16, −.08]). These relationships remained stable over time. The present findings indicate that MA should be conceptualized as a trait-like construct and that individual differences in MA tend to become increasingly stable as students grow older. Furthermore, the longitudinal relationship between MA and MP is reciprocal: MA is just as likely to be a consequence of MP as it is a cause. One implication of this is that early intervention, when MA stability is lower, may be valuable to prevent MA and disrupt the cycle of mutual influence with MP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Stability of math anxiety and its relation with math performance over time: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Toffalini E.;
2025
Abstract
Mathematics anxiety (MA), characterized by tension, nervousness, and worry during mathematical activities, is consistently associated with lower mathematical performance (MP) across cultures. Understanding the nature of MA requires determining the stability of its individual differences and addressing the longstanding question of whether MA precedes MP, MP precedes MA, or if they influence each other reciprocally. This meta-analysis synthesized evidence from 67 independent samples across 62 reports, including 39,935 participants and 948 effect sizes. A multilevel meta-analytic approach estimated the longitudinal stability of MA, revealing high-rank-order stability (r = .49, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.43, .55]) that increased with age and decreased with test–retest interval length. A meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach was used to estimate the prospective relationships between MA and MP in a cross-lagged model. The results showed bidirectional links of similar magnitude: prior MA predicted subsequent MP (b = −.11, 95% CI [−.14, −.07]), and prior MP predicted subsequent MA (b = −.12, 95% CI [−.16, −.08]). These relationships remained stable over time. The present findings indicate that MA should be conceptualized as a trait-like construct and that individual differences in MA tend to become increasingly stable as students grow older. Furthermore, the longitudinal relationship between MA and MP is reciprocal: MA is just as likely to be a consequence of MP as it is a cause. One implication of this is that early intervention, when MA stability is lower, may be valuable to prevent MA and disrupt the cycle of mutual influence with MP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
