Reducing mathematics anxiety in the classroom

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to analyse empirical studies related to reducing mathematics anxiety in the classroom. A scoping process was used to locate literature, and a thematic method was used to analyse and group the data obtained from the studies. A total of 14 articles published between 2014 and 2022, mostly using mixed-methods approaches, were analysed. The data indicated that mindfulness strategies, sustained exposure and support, and addressing affective factors, such as distractions, negative emotions, and motivation, has been shown to reduce mathematics anxiety levels of students. Possible implications for reducing maths anxiety in the classroom and opportunities for further empirical research are presented.