Do girls report more Mathematics Anxiety (MA) than boys and if so, why?

威尔士政府指出，性别失衡影响了人们对数学和其他STEM相关学习和职业的兴趣，女孩对STEM科目的接受程度仍然落后于男孩（威尔士政府，2016年）。他们增加了关注和资金，以促进女孩继续学习物理和数学的机会平等，并希望通过STEM大使和高等数学支持计划等项目促进对STEM的积极、性别中立的看法。数学任务和完成小组认识到，许多工作“依赖于计算和解释数字的能力，并确定适当的数学方法”（威尔士政府，2015年，第2页）。因此，如果女孩对数学不感兴趣导致她们的职业选择减少，可能会导致性别收入差距，那么女孩可能处于不利地位。如果我们不了解女孩在数学方面遇到的障碍，上述举措的成功就会面临风险。如果不研究女孩对数学不感兴趣（甚至厌恶）的原因，这些举措可能永远不会完全实现它们的目标。其中一个可能的潜在问题是数学焦虑（MA），女生比男生报告得更多。研究问题：女孩比男孩报告更多的MA，如果是，为什么？所有类型的MA都遵循相同的性别模式吗？MA是如何与刻板印象的订阅联系在一起的？哪种类型的硕士学位最能预测学生对数学的表现和兴趣？什么水平的MA可被视为“高”？

There is a gender imbalance impacting interest in mathematics and other STEM-related study and careers with Welsh Government stating that girls' uptake of STEM subjects remains behind that of boys (Welsh Government, 2016). They have increased focus and funding to promote equality of opportunity for girls to continue with physics and mathematics in particular and want to promote positive, gender-neutral perceptions of STEM through projects such as STEM Ambassadors and the Further Mathematics Support Programme. The Mathematics Task and Finish Group recognise that many jobs are, "dependent on [the] ability to calculate and interpret numerically and identifyappropriate mathematical method(s)" (Welsh Government, 2015, p.2). Girls may therefore be at a disadvantage if their disinterest in mathematics results in reduced career choices potentially contributing toward the gender pay gap.The success of the above initiatives is at risk if we fail to understand the barriers to mathematics experienced by girls. Without research into the reasons underpinning girls' disinterest in (or even aversion to) mathematics, these initiatives may never fully realise their goals. One such possible underlying issue, reported more by girls than boys, is Mathematics Anxiety (MA).Research Questions:Do girls report more MA than boys and if so, why?Do all types of MA follow the same gender pattern?How is MA associated with subscription to stereotypes?Which type of MA best predicts performance and interest in mathematics?At what level might MA be considered 'high'?