Study Finds Mothers' Math Anxiety Affects Children's Skills

A comprehensive British study has found that approximately 60% of individuals exhibit weaknesses in their mathematical skills, highlighting a significant gender disparity. The findings indicate that mothers' anxiety towards mathematics negatively impacts their children's confidence and numerical abilities from an early age.

The Gender Gap

The study, which assessed 10,000 participants, discovered that 58% have low or very low competency in mathematics, with a higher percentage of women (65%) compared to men (50%).

Furthermore, 27% of women received a "very low" rating, in contrast to 16% of men, underscoring a notable gap in numerical skills between genders.

The Impact of Mothers' Anxiety on Children

The results indicated that mothers' confidence in helping their children with schoolwork is lower than that of fathers (69% versus 83%).
Researchers noted that the impact of this anxiety on girls begins at age eight, with the gender gap widening as they grow older.

Richmond Project to Boost Confidence

This study is part of the Richmond Project, initiated by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy to promote confidence in handling numbers.
Sunak emphasized that confidence in mathematics is a crucial skill that influences both work and daily life, while Murthy highlighted the importance of preventing the transmission of mothers' math anxiety to their children to ensure the development of the next generation's skills.

Tips for Improving Children's Skills

Murthy encouraged parents to incorporate mathematics into everyday activities, such as cooking, solving puzzles, calculating expenses, and splitting bills, to enhance children's numerical skills and confidence from a young age.