Math performance in The Netherlands is falling behind in comparison to other countries. It is therefore important to gain insight in influencing factors of math performance of boys and girls. This...Show moreMath performance in The Netherlands is falling behind in comparison to other countries. It is therefore important to gain insight in influencing factors of math performance of boys and girls. This thesis examined the relation between teachers’ math anxiety and math performance of boys and girls as well as potential mediating factors, such as stereotypes and math competency beliefs. The Math Attitude Scale (MAS; Betz, 1978) was completed by 43 teachers (31 women (72%), average age: M = 40.77, SD = 12.71), from 22 regular primary schools in west and central Netherlands, Twente and Zeeland. A modified version of the Student Attitude Questionnaire’ (SAQ, Wigfield & Meece, 1988) is completed by 279 students (156 girls (56%), average age, M = 11.22, SD = 12.71) of group 6, 7 and 8. Results showed that both boys and girls have the same level of stereotypes (p = .09). Boys on the other hand had a higher level of competency beliefs (p < .001, d = .58). Likewise the math performance of boys was also higher (p = .02, d = .28). There was no mediation path for both boys and girls between teachers’ math anxiety, stereotypes of students and math performance of students (p = .29). Competency beliefs seemed to be a predictor rather than a mediator of math performance for students (p < .001, ɳ2 = .44). To improve math performance, parents and teachers can express positive expectations of math performance to increase the students’ math competency beliefs.Show less
