Abstract
Reducing mathematics anxiety is crucial for improving students' academic performance, and Systematic Desensitization (SD) offers a promising solution. This study investigates the effectiveness of SD in alleviating mathematics anxiety among secondary school students. Utilizing a quasi-experimental approach, the study involved 120 senior secondary students from 59 public schools in the Nsukka Education Zone, Enugu, Nigeria. Participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling process, ensuring representation across two Local Government Areas (LGAs) with available professional guidance counselors. The Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) was employed for data collection, requiring students to score ≥ 51 on the MAS to indicate significant mathematics anxiety. The study included pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment stages. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from parents and participants. The treatment group underwent six weekly sessions focusing on SD techniques, while the control group received no treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28, utilizing descriptive statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to examine the study's questions and hypotheses. Results indicated a significant reduction in mathematics anxiety among students exposed to SD compared to the control group, with no notable gender differences observed among students in the SD group. The findings support SD's efficacy in reducing mathematics anxiety and suggest its potential for integration into school counseling programs. These results highlight the importance of evidence-based interventions like SD for fostering a positive learning environment and improving students' emotional well-being. Schools are recommended to integrate SD techniques into their counseling programs to mitigate mathematics anxiety.
Author Information
Felix Egara, University of the Free State, South Africa
Moeketsi Mosia, University of the Free State, South Africa
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2025
Stream: Counselling
This paper is part of the IICE2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Egara F., & Mosia M. (2025) Investigating the Impact of Systematic Desensitization on Alleviating Mathematics Anxiety Among Secondary School Students ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2025 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 35-43) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.3
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2025.3
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