An Analytical Exploration of Mathematical Stress and Anxiety Among Engineering Students: Challenges and Insights

This paper aims to investigate the effects of maths stress and anxiety on engineering students, with special regard to their results and psychological state. Due to the competitive academic environment of engineering and the critical role mathematics has, this study is to explore the correlation of mathematical stress and anxiety, and a variety of demographic variables such as gender, place of living, birth order, intermediate group, and residential status. The research design adopted in the study incorporated both quantitative and qualitative research methods in order to collect a myriad of information. The target population was engineering students; 300 participants were included in the sample, and data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire on the mathematical stress and anxiety of students. To analyze the data collected the following statistical analysis techniques were employed: descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results presented also suggest that there is no straightforward association between mathematical stress and anxiety and: demographic variables, although some of these relationships bear a mild relationship. In the regression analysis it was established that both mathematical stress and anxiety affect the academic performance, but this relationship is complex and depends on various factors. The authors note that mathematical anxiety does not have a one-size-fits-all solution; the study’s results indicate that it should be treated individually. This calls for several techniques to be formulated and implemented in colleges to address the problems and various student’s background are considered. Therefore, this study seeks to support the existing initiatives by examining the complex antecedents of students and hence boost academic performance and well-being. Future studies should build on these relations and identify more variables to enhance support initiatives and methods.