The MindfulMath Tutor: A Mindfulness-Infused Learning Environment to Battle Math Anxiety
Mirella Hladký, Mareike Silber, Tomohiro Nagashima
CHI Extended Abstracts April 25, 2025 DOI: 10.1145/3706599.3719922 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Secondary school students with medium to high math anxiety |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Education |
| Key findings | The MindfulMath Tutor, which integrates mindfulness language and breathing exercises, significantly reduced students' state math anxiety while achieving learning benefits comparable to a tutor version without mindfulness components. The authors argue it offers an interactive math learning environment that supports learning while reducing math anxiety. |
Abstract
Math anxiety is a widespread issue that affects students’ emotional well-being and math learning. We developed the MindfulMath Tutor, an interactive mindfulness-infused math learning system with a pedagogical agent that provides both cognitive and socio-emotional support, using positive mindful language and breathing exercises. Our experiment with 31 secondary school students (with medium to high math anxiety) showed that the MindfulMath Tutor helped students significantly reduce their state math anxiety while achieving a similar level of learning benefits, when compared against a tutor version without mindfulness components. Our mindfulness-infused math tutor offers an interactive math learning environment that effectively supports student learning while reducing math anxiety.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Research Review: The effects of mindfulness‐based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry October 22, 2018
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- Self-Focused Attention and Mechanisms of Change in Mindfulness-Based Treatment Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 2009
- “I Can Math, Too!”: Reducing Math Anxiety in STEM-Related Courses Using a Combined Mindfulness and Growth Mindset Approach (MAGMA) in the Classroom Community College Journal of Research and Practice March 28, 2022
and 2 more in the library