Consumers with math anxiety, a financially vulnerable group? Unpacking the negative relation between math anxiety and performance on a price comparison task

Storozuk, Andie; Retanal, Fraulein; Maloney, Erin A.

doi:10.5964/jnc.10001

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 62 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Empirical studies confirm the prevalence of math avoidance among individuals with math anxiety, demonstrating a preference to avoid complex mathematical evaluations 3,7,8 . Despite these observations, the neurocognitive mechanisms driving math avoidance in HMA individuals remain unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people

Fang,

jie,

Zhifeng

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study delves into the cognitive and neural underpinnings of math avoidance behavior in individuals with high math anxiety (HMA), a pattern that contributes to a detrimental cycle of limited practice, poor performance, heightened anxiety, and avoidance of math-related tasks. We employed a novel experimental paradigm where participants evaluated the economic benefits against the cognitive costs of engaging in a mathematical problem-solving task. Utilizing a general linear model and Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model regression, we found that the math avoidance tendency in HMA is primarily driven by elevated task difficulty sensitivity, rather than by changes in reward sensitivity. Task difficulty sensitivity emerges as a significant mediator between math anxiety scores and the tendency to avoid math tasks. Neurologically, we pinpointed key networks involved in math avoidance: the ventral valuation network, including the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus, and the cognitive control network, comprising the precuneus, middle cingulate cortex, and temporo-parietal junction. In contrast to their low math anxiety counterparts, HMA individuals exhibit distinct brain activation within these networks. Furthermore, the functional connectivities among these regions effectively differentiate between high and low math anxiety statuses. The altered brain activation and functional connectivities in HMA among both brain networks indicated their deficits in both value processing and cognitive effort allocation. Additionally, activations in the hippocampus, middle cingulate cortex, and posterior insula mediate the relationship between math anxiety scores and the level of math avoidance, further underlining the intricate relationship between neural activity and behavior. Our study illuminates potential cognitive and neural mechanisms，which pave the way for a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with high math anxiety and may inform targeted interventions to mitigate math avoidance behaviors.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people

Fang,

jie,

Zhifeng

et al. 2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Developing Effective Interventions for Math Anxiety

Sidney,

Scheibe,

Zahrn

et al. 2024

Curr Dir Psychol Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is a pressing need for feasible, scalable interventions that address children’s and adults’ math anxiety and result in enhanced math learning. In this article, we suggest a pathway toward intervention development. First, we consider what is known about the mechanisms of math anxiety. To treat math anxiety, we must understand both how and why math anxiety interferes with mathematical learning, thinking, and problem-solving. We then review current approaches to ameliorating math anxiety. Finally, we consider pathways of developing more effective and robust interventions for math anxiety across the lifespan. We highlight clinical approaches to math anxiety and advocate for a double-pronged approach to “break the cycle” of math anxiety transmission from adults to children.

show abstract

What’s Math Got to Do with It?: Establishing Nuanced Relations between Math Anxiety, Financial Anxiety, and Financial Literacy

Storozuk

Maloney

2023

JRFM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We investigate the relations between math anxiety, financial anxiety, and financial literacy while extending previous research in three ways. First, we examine the distinct subconstructs that comprise financial literacy (i.e., financial knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and behaviour). Second, we distinguish between financial knowledge items that are confounded with numeracy versus items that are not. Third, we control for trait anxiety. Using survey data from Canadian adults (N = 241), we demonstrate that math anxiety is negatively related to mathematical financial knowledge but is not related to conceptual financial knowledge, financial confidence, or financial behaviour. Financial anxiety, conversely, is negatively related to both mathematical and conceptual financial knowledge, financial confidence, and ideal financial behaviour. Our data suggest that, when considering financial literacy holistically, financial anxiety is more important than previously thought. These findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between the subconstructs that comprise financial literacy when attempting to understand individual differences that relate to financial literacy. Educators and policymakers looking to improve financial literacy would seemingly benefit from employing a targeted approach to decrease anxiety toward both math and finances.

show abstract

Consumers with math anxiety, a financially vulnerable group? Unpacking the negative relation between math anxiety and performance on a price comparison task

Cited by 3 publications

References 62 publications

The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people

The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people

Developing Effective Interventions for Math Anxiety

What’s Math Got to Do with It?: Establishing Nuanced Relations between Math Anxiety, Financial Anxiety, and Financial Literacy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About