Mathematics Anxiety and Its Relationship with Academic Confidence and Career Aspirations among Secondary School Students
Abstract: This quantitative cross-sectional study examined mathematics anxiety, academic self-efficacy and career-related beliefs among 71 Indian students in Grades 9 and 10. Purposive sampling and a structured questionnaire were used, incorporating nine mathematics-anxiety items, eight academic self-efficacy items and researcher-developed career questions. Mathematics anxiety was negatively correlated with academic self-efficacy (r = -.31, p = .009). The mean mathematics-anxiety total was 20.15 (SD = 6.36), and academic confidence averaged 30.24 out of 40. Test anticipation and surprise quizzes elicited relatively high anxiety. Exploratory findings associated greater mathematics anxiety with career avoidance due to mathematics, although many respondents remained willing to pursue careers involving mathematics when aligned with their interests. The results suggest the relevance of academic confidence and mathematics-related emotions to career exploration, without establishing causality.
Keywords: mathematics anxiety, academic self-efficacy, career aspirations, secondary school students, career guidance
How to Cite?: Krupali Sachin Uchil, "Mathematics Anxiety and Its Relationship with Academic Confidence and Career Aspirations among Secondary School Students", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2143-2145, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261030202556, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261030202556