The relationship between mathematics interest and mathematics achievement: mediating roles of self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety

This study investigates the mediating roles of self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety on the effects of mathematics interest on mathematics achievement. A total of 158161 eighth grade students from 4 province of China participated in the large-scale survey. The findings reveal that (1) mathematics interest had a direct and positive effect on students’ mathematics achievement; (2) the positive relationship between mathematics interest and mathematics achievement was partially mediated by self-efficacy; (3) self-efficacy and then mathematics anxiety serially mediated the relationship between mathematics interest and mathematics achievement, but the effect of self-efficacy on mathematics anxiety was relatively smaller. Implications for mathematics education and suggestions for future study are discussed.