Effects of Self-management Techniques on Mathematics Anxiety among junior secondary school students
The issue of mathematics anxiety among some secondary school students has been among source of worry among the stakeholders in education. In this study therefore, the researcher examined the effects of systematic desensitization and self-management techniques on mathematics anxiety of junior secondary school students in Awka South local government of Anambra state. A quasi experimental design which adopted a pre-test, post-test and control group method is used in this study. The population of the study comprise of 576 secondary school students who are mathematics anxious. The sample size for the study is 80 students. These students are sampled through purposive sampling. The study used Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Scale (AMAS) as instrument developed by Hopko, Mahadevan, Bare and Hunt which was adapted and revalidated in Nigeria. The findings of the study discovered that self-management techniques have positive effects on the mathematics anxiety of the students. It is recommended among other things that counsellors should extend the use of self-management techniques on reduction of mathematics anxiety of students and also teachers should be observing their students closely during and after class lessons in order to identify those who are manifesting symptoms of anxiety of any type so that they will be directed to the counsellors for proper attention towards eliminating the unacceptable behaviour.
Keywords: self-management, techniques, mathematics, anxiety and junior secondary school students.
