No Excess of Mathematics Anxiety in Adolescents Born Very Preterm

Trickett, Jayne; Gilmore, Camilla; Cragg, Lucy; Clayton, Sarah; Marlow, Neil; Simms, Victoria; Spong, Rebecca; Johnson, Samantha

Abstract

Objective:
To assess whether adolescents born very preterm (VP; [less than] 32 weeks' gestation) have an excess of mathematics anxiety compared with their classmates born at term.

Methods:
This cohort study included 127 adolescents born VP (51% male, mean age 13.9 years, SD 0.7) and 95 term-born classmates (56% male, mean age 13.7 years, SD 0.7) who completed the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Second UK Edition and the Mathematics Anxiety Scale-UK at the age of 11 to 15 years. Self-reported trait anxiety was assessed using a composite of 3 items from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results:
Adolescents born VP had significantly poorer mathematics attainment than adolescents born at term (difference in means: −0.64 SD; 95% confidence interval −0.95 to −0.34). However, there were no between-group differences in self-reported mathematics anxiety or trait anxiety. There were significant moderate associations between mathematics anxiety and mathematics attainment for adolescents born VP (rho: −0.45) and at term (rho: −0.54), after controlling for trait anxiety.

Conclusion:
Adolescents born VP do not have heightened mathematics anxiety compared with their term-born classmates, despite poorer attainment in mathematics. Improving domain-general cognitive skills and scaffolding learning in the classroom may be more promising avenues for intervention than attempting to reduce mathematics anxiety.

Citation

Trickett, J., Gilmore, C., Cragg, L., Clayton, S., Marlow, N., Simms, V., Spong, R., & Johnson, S. (2021). No Excess of Mathematics Anxiety in Adolescents Born Very Preterm. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 42(3), 220-226. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000000884

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 19, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 25, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 3, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
• Print ISSN: 0196-206X
• Electronic ISSN: 1536-7312
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 220-226
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000000884
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health; Developmental and Educational Psychology; Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4923958
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/Abstract/9000/No_Excess_of_Mathematics_Anxiety_in_Adolescents.99004.aspx
• Additional Information: This is the author's post-print of the article. The definitive version is published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics