Validation Study of the Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale: Spanish Adaptation

Abstract

With growing numbers of Hispanic students enrolling in post-secondary school, there is a need to increase retentionand graduation rates. The purpose of this study was to validate the Spanish adaptation of the Abbreviated MathAnxiety Scale (AMAS). The AMAS was translated and administered to 804 freshman students at a post-secondaryinstitution in Mexico. After data analysis, the measure was found to be valid and reliable. The validated measurecould serve as a predictor for math course grades and retention among Hispanic students at the post-secondary level,and it could allow researchers to study the structure of math anxiety across cultures.