Young‐age gender differences in mathematics mediated by independent control or uncontrollability. Issue 3 (11th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zirk‐Sadowski, Jan; Lamptey, Charlotte; Devine, Amy; Haggard, Mark; Szűcs, Dénes
• Is Part Of: Developmental science. Volume 17:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 366
• Page End: 375
• Publication Date: 2014-01-11
• Subjects: Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Comparative -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1111/desc.12126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1363-755X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="desc12126-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We studied whether the origins of math anxiety can be related to a biologically supported framework of stress induction: (un)controllability perception, here indicated by self‐reported independent efforts in mathematics. Math anxiety was tested in 182 children (8‐ to 11‐year‐olds). <italic>Latent factor modeling</italic> was used to test hypotheses on plausible causal processes and mediations within competing models in quasi‐experimental contrasts. Uncontrollability perception in mathematics, or (in)dependence of efforts, best fit the data as an antecedent of math anxiety. In addition, the relationship of math anxiety with gender was fully mediated by adaptive perception of control (i.e. controllability). That is, young boys differ from girls in terms of their experience of control in mathematics learning. These differences influence math anxiety. Our findings are consistent with recent suggestions in clinical literature according to which uncontrollability makes women more susceptible to fear and anxiety disorders.</p> <p>A video abstract of this article can be viewed at <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4b_47Y-e_U" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4b_47Y-e_U</ext-link></p> </abstract>