Time, Time, Time: Perceptions of the Causes of Mathematics Anxiety in Highly Maths Anxious Female Adult Learners

Abstract

Adult learners and female students report higher levels of mathematics anxiety than their peers, suggesting that female adult learners may be particularly vulnerable. This study used Bandura’s triarchic reciprocal causality model as a foundation and interviewed five highly mathematics anxious female adult learners to understand their perceptions of the causes of their mathematics anxiety. Thematic interpretation revealed five themes from the interviews; time since last educational experience emerged as the strongest theme, with other personal and environmental factors also emerging. The findings support a social cognitive perspective of mathematics anxiety. Suggestions for pedagogical techniques with adult learners are included.