MATH ANXIETY AND THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO IT

MICHAEL M. DELA CRUZ

When you ask a student to solve mathematical problem and just look at you yet does not answer, that is Math anxiety. Whenever you notice students stutter when asked to solve and answer, he has math anxiety then. Math anxiety? What is it?

Math anxiety refers to the sense of unease or fear that individuals experience when dealing with math-related tasks, such as calculations or problem-solving. (Psych Central) It is an intense feeling of worry about math. Persons with this type of anxiety fear mathematical problems or any activity related to numbers. They may feel panicked as they work with numbers and that makes them harder to think.

Math anxiety is very common. According to a 2018 review, approximately 93% of adults in the United States say that they have experienced some degree of math anxiety. Additionally, an estimated of 17% of U.S. residents have a severe form of the condition. This anxiety is not a distinct medical condition but a type of anxiety that arises due to mathematical situations.

There are factors contributing to math anxiety. Few of these are; Past experiences- if someone had faced a negative past experience or had suffered from humiliation due to solving or making mistakes in math, this will create a lasting impact and might lead him to affect its confidence and might cause him feel discomfort with numbers. Pressure to performthe higher expectations we get to oneself, to our peers, parents and relatives, the more pressure we become and that leads to anxiousness or anxiety. Another one is Working Memory Overload- Know which part of the brain is responsible in holding small amount of information and which one is use in solving mathematical problems. When someone suffers from math anxiety, the worrisome he has in solving math overpowers his working memory. This leads to difficulty in calculations and such bolsters anxiety.

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III- Camba National High School

author is Teacher