Executive functions, math anxiety and math performance in middle school students. (8th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Živković, Marija; Pellizzoni, Sandra; Mammarella, Irene Cristina; Passolunghi, Maria Chiara
• Is Part Of: British journal of developmental psychology. Volume 40:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 438
• Page End: 452
• Publication Date: 2022-04-08
• Subjects: executive functions -- math anxiety -- math performance -- middle school students; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-510X

Abstract

Abstract: Previous studies mainly investigated working memory (WM) and math anxiety (MA) leaving almost unexplored other aspects of executive functions (EFs) in middle school period. Filling the gap in the literature, the aims of this study were: (1) to better examine the relationship between MA and math performance, (2) to better examine the relationship between EFs and math performance and (3) to investigate the interplay between EFs and MA on math performances. This study confirmed a significant and negative relationship between MA and math performance, indicates a significant and positive relationship between visuospatial WM and math performance, shifting and math performance and highlight a scarcely investigated indirect influence of MA through the measure of shifting on math performance. Our findings shed further light on the mediating role of EFs between MA and math performance and underline some future perspectives.