Role of self efficacy and background music on mathematics test anxiety among secondary school students

Abstract

The study investigated the role of self -efficacy and background music on mathematics test anxiety. One hundred and four (104) students were randomly selected as participants from Nnamdi Azikiwe University High School, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Participants ages ranged from 12 to 17 years old (Mean age == 14.82; Standard Deviation == 1.47). Self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety were measured with self-efficacy scale (SES) and mathematics anxiety rating scale -revised (MARS-R), respectively. Results of data analysis using a 2 factor analysis of variance indicated a significant main effect of self-efficacy (p <.05). Background music showed no significant main effect. There was also no significant interaction effect of the factors. These findings have implication for parents and educators on guiding school-age adolescents to overcome excessive worries towards mathematics tasks.