Math Anxiety

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between math anxiety with optimism and perceived classroom structure through mediating role of mathematics attitudes in female high school students. The statistical population of this descriptive correlational study comprised all the female high-school students in Ahvaz (Iran) in the academic year 2020-2021. A sample of 237 students was randomly selected via single-stage cluster sampling. In this study, the sample size was determined based on the number of predictor variables in the structural equation analysis. The research instruments included the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS), the Life Orientation Test (LOT), Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM), and the Mathematics Attitude Scale (MAS). The proposed model was evaluated by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that all direct paths except perceived classroom structure to math anxiety were significant (p< 0.01). The indirect paths from optimism to math anxiety mediated by mathematics attitude, and the path from perceived classroom structure to math anxiety mediated by mathematics attitude were significant (p< 0.01). The proposed method, therefore, has an optimal fit and is a major step towards identifying the factor affecting students’ math anxiety.

The current study aims to investigate the impact of the flipped classroom on creativity, accountability, and math anxiety among female elementary students. This quasi-experimental research employed a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population for this study encompassed all female elementary students in Isfahan, Iran, during the first semester of the academic year 2021-2022. The convenience sampling method was utilized to select 30 students who were then divided into experimental and control groups (n = 15 per group). The experimental group received 16 online sessions using the flipped classroom approach, while the control group continued with regular educational practices at the same time. The research instruments consisted of the Home–School Accountability Questionnaire, Standard Creativity Scale, and Math Anxiety Scale. Analysis of covariance was employed for inferential analysis. The results revealed that the flipped classroom approach yielded positive effects on creativity (F = 6.15, p < 0.05, η² = 0.18), accountability (F = 6.75, p < 0.05, η² = 0.20), and math anxiety (F = 4.74, p < 0.05, η² = 0.15).

This study aimed to investigate the intermediating role of self-regulation in the relationship between mathematical educational beliefs and students' math anxiety. The descriptive method was correlation sort which is based on structural equations. The statistical subjects of this study were selected from 2710 male students in the ninth grade of secondary school in public schools in the 4th district of Tehran in the educational years 2020-2021. In this study, 300 students were chosen by a two-step cluster method as the sample size, to collect data, Plake and Parker’s Math Anxiety Questionnaire (1982), Ledder & Forgasz’s Math Educational Beliefs Questionnaire (2002), and Sawari & Arabzadeh’s Self-Regulation Questionnaire (2013) were applied. Structural equation modeling(SEM) with SPSS 18 and AMOS23 were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that math educational beliefs and self-regulation have a direct effect on students' math anxiety (p<0.01)., and mathematical educational beliefs have an indirect effect on math anxiety with mediating of self-regulation (p<0.01), and the research model was approved. This study shows the importance of educational cognitive elements in math anxiety and it is suggested that the educational systems set plans to improve students' positive educational and cognitive beliefs and as a results decrease anxiety in educational settings especially math anxiety.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of math anxiety with math self-efficacy and math attitude, considering the mediating role of numerical memory via the structural equation modeling. The research adopted a correlational method. The statistical population of the study comprised secondary school students from Oshnavieh city in Iran (N= 4280) in 2019. From this statistical population, 200 students were selected as the sample using the cluster random sampling method, and were administered the Plack and Parker math anxiety tests (1982), Wechsler Numerical Memory Scale (2003), Liu and Koirala Math Self-Efficacy Scale (2009) and the Fennma-Sherman Math Attitude Scale (1976). The structural equation modeling approach was used to examine the data using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 software. The findings of the study indicated that students' math anxiety is directly influenced by numerical memory (p= 0.001), mathematical self-efficacy (p=0.01), and mathematical attitude (p=0.1). Additionally, it was observed that mathematical self-efficacy indirectly influences students' math anxiety via numerical memory (p= 0.05). Furthermore, the indirect effect of math attitude via numerical memory on students' math anxiety was not confirmed (p=0.54).   Based on these findings, it can be concluded that it is imperative to address both math self-efficacy and math attitude to reduce students' math anxiety. Consequently, it is recommended that educators create an environment that fosters a positive attitude towards mathematics lessons and enhances students' self-efficacy in mathematics.