Written by Vanessa Melendez, B.S.

Reference: Oh, D. D., Barger, M. M., & Pomerantz, E. M. (2022). Parents’ math anxiety and their controlling and autonomy-supportive involvement in children’s math learning: Implications for children’s math achievement. Developmental Psychology

What can parents do at home to foster positive learning experiences in their children?  Does a parent’s own math anxiety influence their children’s math learning when helping them?

Researchers examined whether parents’ math anxiety impacted their child’s math achievement in how they assist their child with homework. They recruited 560 parents (80% mothers) of Illinois elementary children to visit a lab twice in two consecutive years. Researchers collected data on parents’ math anxiety and two homework parenting styles: 1. controlling (sitting next to, immediately correcting mistakes, insisting they solve the problem ‘the right way’) or 2. autonomy supportive (giving hints, asking questions to get their child to solve a problem on their own, praising their working hard). They videotaped parents playing a math game with their children to verify how parents interacted. Children took assessments after each visit. 

Results? Math anxious parents were more likely to use controlling parenting, especially with lower math-achieving students. Additionally, their children had lower math achievement a year later.  

Parents! Relax. Encourage your children to solve problems on their own, ask questions, give hints, praise their efforts. Your support is beneficial!