Mathematics anxiety as a predictor of course preference among prospective undergraduate students in Nigeria

This study examined prospective undergraduate students’ preferences for specific courses in relation to their levels of mathematics anxiety. A total of 138 students currently enrolled in tertiary institutions participated in the research. The Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) was used to measure respondents’ levels of math anxiety, while their course preferences were obtained through the demographic section of the questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was employed to assess the predictive effect of mathematics anxiety on students’ course choices. Results indicated that mathematics anxiety significantly predicted course preference, F (1, 136) = 128.97, p < .000, accounting for approximately 16.1% of the variance in students’ course preferences. These findings confirm the assumption that mathematics anxiety is a significant predictor of course selection among prospective undergraduates. The implications of the study for career guidance, curriculum planning, and educational counseling are discussed.