Mathematics anxiety is a global phenomenon that has generated research interest over the past four decades. Many researchers have suggested that girls display higher levels of mathematics anxiety than boys. This article explores that conjecture in the New Zealand context. It reports on the prevalence of mathematics anxiety in adolescents and investigates the factors that influence students’ mathematics anxiety in mathematics classrooms. Participants in the study were Year 9 students (N = 415) from seven secondary schools in New Zealand. Students were asked to indicate their levels of mathematics test anxiety and mathematics learning anxiety. Statistical analyses confirmed that girls report higher levels of mathematics anxiety than boys. Findings revealed that girls’ mathematics anxiety increased with school decile, and was higher in single-sex girls-only schools. Mathematics test anxiety was a major contributor to levels of mathematics anxiety. The article offers a number of strategies that schools might put in place aimed at reducing mathematics anxiety.

中文翻译：

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中学生数学焦虑：问题、影响和启示

数学焦虑是一种全球现象，在过去的四年中引起了研究兴趣。许多研究人员认为，女孩比男孩表现出更高的数学焦虑水平。本文在新西兰的背景下探讨了这一猜想。它报告了青少年数学焦虑的流行情况，并调查了影响学生数学课堂数学焦虑的因素。该研究的参与者是来自新西兰七所中学的 9 年级学生 (N = 415)。要求学生指出他们的数学考试焦虑和数学学习焦虑的水平。统计分析证实，女孩报告的数学焦虑程度高于男孩。调查结果显示，女孩的数学焦虑随着学校十分位数的增加而增加，在单性别女子学校中更高。数学考试焦虑是导致数学焦虑水平的主要因素。这篇文章提供了许多学校可能采取的旨在减少数学焦虑的策略。