Goettfried Elisabeth, Thaler Katharina, Delazer Margarete, Basso Demis, Piazza Manuela, Knoflach Michael, Zamarian Laura
Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Cognitive and Educational Sciences Lab (CESLab), Faculty of Education, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, 39042 Bressanone-Brixen, Italy.
Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. 2025 May 15;15(5):84. doi: 10.3390/ejihpe15050084.
Arithmetic competence is crucial for navigating modern society and maintaining independence. It relies on domain-general and domain-specific cognitive skills, as well as subjective factors. Given its importance, understanding how these factors shape adult arithmetic proficiency is essential. This study investigated demographic, cognitive, and subjective influences on various arithmetic skills throughout adulthood, including both younger and older individuals. In total, 134 adults aged 20-68 completed computerized tasks assessing simple calculations, exact and approximate complex calculations, and arithmetic principles, alongside neuropsychological testing and self-ratings on math anxiety, math self-concept, attitudes toward mathematics, and the frequency of engagement with numbers. The results indicate that accuracy varied by task, with approximate calculations being the most challenging. Self-ratings showed low math anxiety but moderate-to-high math self-concept, positive attitudes, and moderate engagement with numbers. Age correlated only with arithmetic principles; however, interference inhibition and engagement with numbers, not age, best predicted performance. Executive functions correlated solely with approximate calculations and arithmetic principles, while subjective measures were related to all arithmetic tasks. The regression analyses indicate strong interrelationships, particularly among calculation tasks. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of arithmetic competence and suggest it remains stable in adulthood, with age-related declines only evident in arithmetic principles, likely due to declining executive functions.
算术能力对于在现代社会中立足和保持独立至关重要。它依赖于一般领域和特定领域的认知技能以及主观因素。鉴于其重要性，了解这些因素如何塑造成年人的算术能力至关重要。本研究调查了成年期（包括年轻人和老年人）各种算术技能在人口统计学、认知和主观方面的影响。共有134名年龄在20至68岁之间的成年人完成了计算机化任务，这些任务评估简单计算、精确和近似复杂计算以及算术原理，同时还进行了神经心理学测试以及关于数学焦虑、数学自我概念、对数学的态度和数字使用频率的自我评分。结果表明，准确性因任务而异，近似计算是最具挑战性的。自我评分显示数学焦虑程度较低，但数学自我概念为中等至高，态度积极，对数字的使用频率适中。年龄仅与算术原理相关；然而，干扰抑制和对数字的使用，而非年龄，最能预测表现。执行功能仅与近似计算和算术原理相关，而主观测量与所有算术任务相关。回归分析表明存在很强的相互关系，特别是在计算任务之间。研究结果突出了算术能力的多面性，并表明其在成年期保持稳定，与年龄相关的下降仅在算术原理方面明显，这可能是由于执行功能下降所致。
