Women’s mathematics anxiety: a mixed methods case study

ABSTRACT

Providing training for women intending to re-enter or increase their employment options in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields must address women’s mathematics anxiety. Addressing women’s anxiety is essential given that mathematics is often viewed as the foundation upon which the other STEM careers are built. This study employed a mixed methods case study using a quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of expressive writing on reducing participants’ mathematics anxiety. Findings revealed that the intervention had little impact on reducing anxiety as measured by the Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (AMARS) given that other anxiety stimulating issues were at play. Post-course interviews revealed that participants reported their anxiety related to mathematics had decreased as a result of the expressive writing but their anxiety about finding employment or being accepted into another training course overshadowed the measure of mathematics anxiety. The outcome of this study highlighted the complexity in measuring mathematics anxiety as it can be influenced by other anxieties.

KEYWORDS:

• Mathematics anxiety
• STEM
• women

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).