Math Anxiety, Math Self-Concept, and Math Self-Efficacy in Adult Learners Compared to Traditional Undergraduate Students

Adult learners comprise a significant portion of current undergraduate populations, and projections indicate steady or growing numbers of adult learners in the future. Previous research has suggested that adult learners possess lower self-confidence than and face barriers not experienced by traditional undergraduate students. These constructs have not been explored specifically within mathematics, however, which was the purpose of the current study. Using data collected from 226 undergraduate students (60 traditional students, 166 adult learners), the current research found that adult learners self-report lower levels of math self-efficacy and higher levels of math anxiety than their traditional peers. Implications for adult education are suggested.