Science anxiety is a growing concern that may impede student learning and literacy in science fields across various educational levels and school systems. This anxiety is often linked to both science tasks (learning) and science evaluation (testing). Recent studies, such as those utilizing the abbreviated science anxiety scale, have identified two distinct aspects of science anxiety related to learning and testing, both of which negatively impact science achievement. Despite these findings, there remains a significant gap in understanding the underlying variables—such as student, school, and cultural factors—that contribute to science anxiety. Addressing these gaps could lead to the development of practical, contextually tailored interventions aimed at mitigating science anxiety. Additionally, the interplay between science anxiety and other forms of anxiety, such as generalized anxiety, math anxiety, and social anxiety, particularly in the context of stressful life events like the COVID-19 pandemic, warrants further investigation.
This research topic aims to explore the sources, impacts, co-variates, and mitigation strategies for science anxiety. The primary objectives include identifying the underlying factors contributing to science anxiety, understanding how these factors differ across various educational contexts, and developing effective interventions. Specific questions to be addressed include: What are the primary sources of science anxiety? How do these sources vary across different student demographics and educational systems? What strategies can effectively mitigate science anxiety, and how can they be tailored to address both learning and testing aspects?
To gather further insights into the complexities of science anxiety, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- The relationship between science anxiety and science achievement
- Contextually tailored interventions for mitigating science anxiety
- Comparative studies on science anxiety across different educational systems
- The interplay between science anxiety and other forms of anxiety
- Experimental evaluations of strategies to mitigate science anxiety
- Meta-analyses and literature reviews on science anxiety
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on science anxiety levels
- Differences and overlaps between science anxiety and mathematics anxiety
Keywords: Science anxiety, Science achievement, Teaching strategies, Mathematics anxiety, Anxiety sources
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
