Which math anxiety interventions work best? A review of 51 intervention studies.

What is it about?

Many children and adults feel anxious when they deal with mathematics. This anxiety can make it even harder for them to learn and perform well. Our study looked at 51 research projects involving more than 7,600 learners to find out which types of interventions are most effective in reducing math anxiety. We grouped the interventions into three categories: math-skills interventions (building math abilities through practice and instruction), math-anxiety interventions (directly addressing how students feel about math), and combined interventions that include both. Within math-anxiety interventions, we further distinguished between physiological approaches (e.g., relaxation or breathing exercises that help calm the body) and cognitive approaches (e.g., reframing negative thoughts or teaching students to interpret anxiety in a more helpful way). We found that programs combining math skill training with cognitive strategies worked best for lowering math anxiety. Interventions that specifically target anxiety also helped, especially for people who already feel very anxious about math. Math-skills interventions, on their own, showed a smaller anxiety-reducing effect, but they were also the only type among the three we examined that consistently improved math performance. This means skill-focused approaches can provide a practical, dual benefit for classrooms that want to support both learning and emotional well-being. Overall, if the primary goal is to reduce math anxiety, combining math instruction with anxiety-focused cognitive strategies appears to work best. Skill-focused approaches may be a cost-effective option when both anxiety and performance are concerns.

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Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Math anxiety affects millions of learners and can limit their confidence, academic choices, and long-term opportunities. Yet teachers, parents, and policymakers often lack clear guidance on which strategies actually work to reduce this anxiety. Our study brings together evidence from 51 intervention projects to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of what truly helps. By comparing different types of interventions—including skill-building, emotional approaches, and combined programs—we offer practical, research-based answers that can immediately inform classroom decisions and support students who struggle with math. This work can help educators choose more effective methods and design better learning environments for learners of all ages.

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