Management of Mathematics Anxiety: Virtual Relaxation Interventions
Abstract
For many students Math engenders feelings of intense worry, psychosomatic complaints and avoidance behaviors. While these behaviors serve as early warning signals for many, excessive worry can become debilitating and lead to Anxiety and unsuccessful engagement with Mathematics. Therefore, devising effective interventions aimed at improving engagement, learning, and teaching are paramount in reducing Math anxiety levels. Mounting research in educational and psychological contexts suggests Virtual reality interventions are effective in reducing various types of anxiety such as social anxiety, specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety, and panic disorders. The aim of the present research was to investigate the impact of a classroom based intervention using virtual reality scenarios on academic performance in an undergraduate Elementary Statistics course. A pre-test/post-test design was employed. The treatment group completed the Math Anxiety Rating Scale and used virtual reality goggles on handheld devices to watch calming scenarios. Results suggest virtual reality strategies may help moderate the relationship between Math anxiety and academic performance by lowering at least one of the barriers associated with Math engagement.