Mathematics achievement and anxiety and their relation to internalizing and externalizing behaviors

Abstract

Although behavioral difficulties are well documented in reading disabilities, little is known about the relationship between math ability and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Here, we use standardized measures to investigate the relation among early math ability, math anxiety, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in a group of 366 second and third graders. Math achievement was significantly correlated with attentional difficulties and social problems but not with internalizing symptoms. The relation between math achievement and externalizing behavioral problems was stronger in girls than in boys. Math achievement was not correlated with trait anxiety but was negatively correlated with math anxiety. Critically, math anxiety differed significantly between children classified as math learning disabled (MLD), low achieving (LA), and typically developing (TD), with math anxiety significantly higher in the MLD and LA groups compared to the TD group. Our findings suggest that, even in nonclinical samples, math difficulties at the earliest stages of formal math learning are associated with attentional difficulties and domain-specific anxiety. These findings underscore the need for further examination of the shared cognitive, neural, and genetic influences underlying problem solving and nonverbal learning difficulties and accompanying internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

Keywords: behavior issues; dyscalculia; mathematics.

Figure 1

Math achievement (WIAT-II Math Composite) was significantly correlated with math anxiety, β = −.38, t(357) = −7.73, p < .001, R² = .14, even after controlling for CBCL Anxiety/Depression subscale, β = −.37, t(335) = −7.14, p < .001, R² = .14. Note. CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; SEMA = Scale for Early Mathematics Anxiety; WIAT-II = Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition.

Figure 2

(a) Math anxiety was significantly different among the three math achievement groups, F(2, 296) = 13.29, p < .001. Post hoc Tukey analyses indicated that the MLD and LA groups had significantly higher levels of math anxiety than the TD group. (b) CBCL Anxiety and Depression did not differ significantly among the three math achievement groups, F(2, 296) = 0.20, ns. Note. CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; LA = low achieving; MLD = math learning disabled; TD = typically developing.

Figure 2

(a) Math anxiety was significantly different among the three math achievement groups, F(2, 296) = 13.29, p < .001. Post hoc Tukey analyses indicated that the MLD and LA groups had significantly higher levels of math anxiety than the TD group. (b) CBCL Anxiety and Depression did not differ significantly among the three math achievement groups, F(2, 296) = 0.20, ns. Note. CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; LA = low achieving; MLD = math learning disabled; TD = typically developing.