Abstract

CURILLA, Rosemeire Aparecida Trebi  and  CARMO, João dos Santos. Effectiveness of interventions to reduce mathematical anxiety. Rev. psicopedag. [online]. 2023, vol.40, n.121, pp. 46-65. ISSN 0103-8486.  http://dx.doi.org/10.51207/2179-4057.20230005.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce mathematical anxiety (MA) in children and/or adolescents, systematizing suggestions for psycho-pedagogical care. A systematic review of MA was conducted, based on the PRISMA Protocol. The search, conducted in the ERIC, LILACS, PePSIC, SciELO, CAPES journals and Web of Science databases, covered January 2010 to January 2021, peer-reviewed empirical articles in Portuguese, Spanish and English and the combinations of descriptors: mathematics anxiety OR math anxiety, and their equivalents in Spanish and Portuguese. A total of 1,264 studies were identified and 24 were included because they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in relation to the effectiveness of the intervention, according to the parameters: efficacy, efficiency, effect maintenance and generalization and the findings presented through descriptive synthesis. The results suggest that interventions that emphasize pedagogical and psychotherapeutic aspects are more effective in reducing MA in children and adolescents, while those that use only one of these strategies have lower effectiveness. Regarding intervention procedures, educational strategies/programs involving mathematical skills training stand out; active recreational games; interactive learning in problem solving; peer-to-peer tutoring; and therapeutic anxiety reduction techniques, which cover mathematical intervention integrated into self-regulated learning. Implications to guide the practice of psycho-pedagogue are discussed in the light of scientific evidence and recommendations are pointed out for their action in case of MA.

Keywords : Mathematical Anxiety; Children and [or Adolescents]; Systematic review; Psychopedagogical Strategies [Interventions]; Psychopedagogy.

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