title: Sex and mathematical background as predictors of anxiety and self-efficacy in mathematics.
abstract: Anxiety and self-efficacy in mathematics as a function of sex and mathematical background were investigated. This study employed an ex post facto 2 x 2 factorial design in which sex and mathematical background were classification variables. It was predicted that men would report lower anxiety scores and higher self-efficacy scores than women and that students with a high mathematical background would report lower anxiety scores and higher self-efficacy scores than those with a low background in mathematics. An interaction between sex and mathematical background was also predicted. 51 subjects were given the revised Mathematics Anxiety Scale and the Mathematics Self-efficacy Scale. Results supported the hypotheses with respect to background in mathematics for anxiety in mathematics, and all of the hypotheses were supported for self-efficacy in mathematics.
authors.affiliation: Whitworth College, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lussier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*