Maths anxiety, which affects up to 30 percent of people, can trigger symptoms such as sweaty palms and a racing heart at the sight of numbers
A study has found that parents with severe maths anxiety are likely to pass on their struggles to their children, impacting their arithmetic abilities from an early age.
Researchers examined 126 parents with maths anxiety and tracked the mathematical skills of their children aged three to five. The findings revealed that children of anxious parents performed worse in maths during preschool and continued to struggle at age eight.
Maths anxiety, which affects up to 30 percent of people, can trigger symptoms such as sweaty palms and a racing heart at the sight of numbers.
Dr. Kinga Morsanyi, senior author of the study at Loughborough University, emphasized the importance of positive parental attitudes toward maths. “One simple yet powerful step parents can take is to speak more positively about maths and recognise that you do not need to be a special talent in maths to be able to learn it,” she said.
Dr. Morsanyi added that even parents who struggle with maths can make a significant difference by showing interest, enthusiasm, and offering encouragement to their children. The study underscores the importance of fostering a supportive environment for mathematical learning at home to break the cycle of anxiety and improve children’s long-term mathematical skills.
