Mathematics anxiety and self-efficacy among students in Hong Kong and Macao (China): socioeconomic disadvantage as a moderator of academic achievement

This study examines the relationship between cognitive processes and job performance in teachers at the Cruz del Norte Educational Unit, focusing on attention, planning, organization, anxiety, and job stress. A mixed-method design was applied, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques such as psychometric tests, Pearson correlation, multiple regression analysis, Student’s t-test, the Delphi method, and the Ishikawa diagram. The results show that executive functions, particularly planning and organization, have a significant positive impact on job performance. Teachers with higher levels of these skills demonstrate better performance, with strong correlations (r = 0.72, p = 0.001; r = 0.65, p = 0.003). In contrast, anxiety and stress act as limiting factors. Multiple regression analysis indicates that anxiety (β = -0.4946, p < 0.0001) and stress (β = -0.3721, p < 0.001) negatively predict job performance. Additionally, job indiscipline—reflected in absenteeism and lateness—shows a strong negative correlation with performance (r = -0.74, p < 0.000). These findings highlight the importance of time management and organizational commitment, as well as the need to implement training and psychological support strategies to improve teacher performance and educational quality.

این مطالعه به بررسی رابطه بین فرایندهای شناختی و عملکرد شغلی در معلمان واحد آموزشی Cruz del Norte می‌پردازد و بر توجه، برنامه‌ریزی، سازمان‌دهی، اضطراب و استرس شغلی تمرکز دارد. از طرح پژوهشی ترکیبی استفاده شده است که تکنیک‌های کمی و کیفی مانند آزمون‌های روان‌سنجی، همبستگی پیرسون، تحلیل رگرسیون چندگانه، آزمون t استیودنت، روش دلفی و نمودار ایشیکاوا را ترکیب می‌کند. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که کارکردهای اجرایی، به‌ویژه برنامه‌ریزی و سازمان‌دهی، تأثیر مثبت معناداری بر عملکرد شغلی دارند. معلمانی که سطوح بالاتری از این مهارت‌ها را دارا هستند، عملکرد بهتری از خود نشان می‌دهند و همبستگی‌های قوی (r = ۰.۷۲, p = ۰.۰۰۱؛ r = ۰.۶۵, p = ۰.۰۰۳) مشاهده شده است. در مقابل، اضطراب و استرس به‌عنوان عوامل محدودکننده عمل می‌کنند. تحلیل رگرسیون چندگانه نشان می‌دهد که اضطراب (β = -۰.۴۹۴۶, p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) و استرس (β = -۰.۳۷۲۱, p < ۰.۰۰۱) پیش‌بینی‌کننده منفی عملکرد شغلی هستند. همچنین، بی‌انضباطی شغلی—که در غیبت و تأخیر منعکس می‌شود—همبستگی منفی قوی با عملکرد دارد (r = -۰.۷۴, p < ۰.۰۰۰). این یافته‌ها اهمیت مدیریت زمان و تعهد سازمانی و همچنین ضرورت اجرای راهبردهای آموزشی و حمایت روان‌شناختی برای بهبود عملکرد معلمان و کیفیت آموزشی را برجسته می‌کند.

This study examines the relationship between cognitive processes and job performance in teachers at the Cruz del Norte Educational Unit, focusing on attention, planning, organization, anxiety, and job stress. A mixed-method design was applied, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques such as psychometric tests, Pearson correlation, multiple regression analysis, Student’s t-test, the Delphi method, and the Ishikawa diagram. The results show that executive functions, particularly planning and organization, have a significant positive impact on job performance. Teachers with higher levels of these skills demonstrate better performance, with strong correlations (r = 0.72, p = 0.001; r = 0.65, p = 0.003). In contrast, anxiety and stress act as limiting factors. Multiple regression analysis indicates that anxiety (β = -0.4946, p < 0.0001) and stress (β = -0.3721, p < 0.001) negatively predict job performance. Additionally, job indiscipline—reflected in absenteeism and lateness—shows a strong negative correlation with performance (r = -0.74, p < 0.000). These findings highlight the importance of time management and organizational commitment, as well as the need to implement training and psychological support strategies to improve teacher performance and educational quality.

این مطالعه به بررسی رابطه بین فرایندهای شناختی و عملکرد شغلی در معلمان واحد آموزشی Cruz del Norte می‌پردازد و بر توجه، برنامه‌ریزی، سازمان‌دهی، اضطراب و استرس شغلی تمرکز دارد. از طرح پژوهشی ترکیبی استفاده شده است که تکنیک‌های کمی و کیفی مانند آزمون‌های روان‌سنجی، همبستگی پیرسون، تحلیل رگرسیون چندگانه، آزمون t استیودنت، روش دلفی و نمودار ایشیکاوا را ترکیب می‌کند. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که کارکردهای اجرایی، به‌ویژه برنامه‌ریزی و سازمان‌دهی، تأثیر مثبت معناداری بر عملکرد شغلی دارند. معلمانی که سطوح بالاتری از این مهارت‌ها را دارا هستند، عملکرد بهتری از خود نشان می‌دهند و همبستگی‌های قوی (r = ۰.۷۲, p = ۰.۰۰۱؛ r = ۰.۶۵, p = ۰.۰۰۳) مشاهده شده است. در مقابل، اضطراب و استرس به‌عنوان عوامل محدودکننده عمل می‌کنند. تحلیل رگرسیون چندگانه نشان می‌دهد که اضطراب (β = -۰.۴۹۴۶, p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) و استرس (β = -۰.۳۷۲۱, p < ۰.۰۰۱) پیش‌بینی‌کننده منفی عملکرد شغلی هستند. همچنین، بی‌انضباطی شغلی—که در غیبت و تأخیر منعکس می‌شود—همبستگی منفی قوی با عملکرد دارد (r = -۰.۷۴, p < ۰.۰۰۰). این یافته‌ها اهمیت مدیریت زمان و تعهد سازمانی و همچنین ضرورت اجرای راهبردهای آموزشی و حمایت روان‌شناختی برای بهبود عملکرد معلمان و کیفیت آموزشی را برجسته می‌کند.

Holistic student development has become a fundamental indicator of educational quality in early childhood education because it encompasses children's cognitive, socio-emotional, physical, moral, and spiritual development. Despite increasing attention being given to holistic education in Malaysia, empirical evidence explaining how instructional leadership, educator commitment, and educator motivation contribute to holistic student development within KEMAS preschools remains limited. This study therefore examined the levels, relationships, and predictive influence of instructional leadership, educator commitment, and educator motivation on holistic student development among KEMAS preschool educators in the Northern Zone of Malaysia. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed involving 313 educators selected from a population of approximately 1,700 educators across Kedah, Perak, and Pulau Pinang. Data were collected using structured questionnaires adapted from established instruments and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression using SPSS. The findings indicated that instructional leadership, educator commitment, educator motivation, and holistic student development were all perceived at high levels. Significant positive relationships were identified between all independent variables and holistic student development. Stepwise regression analysis further revealed that extrinsic motivation emerged as the strongest predictor, followed by intrinsic motivation, providing incentives to students, and defining school mission and goals. Collectively, these predictors explained 42.1% of the variance in holistic student development. The findings provide empirical evidence supporting leadership enhancement, educator motivation, and evidence-based policymaking to strengthen preschool educational quality within KEMAS.

Universities preparing graduates for technology-enabled financial services need to understand how digital learning conditions relate to students’ career readiness. This study examines the associations of university-based Digital Financial Learning Ecosystem Quality with perceived FinTech Career Readiness among Vietnamese business students. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Social Cognitive Career Theory, ecosystem quality is modelled as a reflective–formative higher-order construct comprising Digital Academic Support, the Digital Learning Environment, and Digital Teaching Innovation. Cross-sectional survey data from 341 students recruited through nonprobability convenience sampling via networks centred on northern Vietnam were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and a disjoint two-stage procedure.All three ecosystem dimensions made significant formative contributions, with the digital learning environment showing the largest estimated weight. Higher ecosystem quality was positively associated with self-efficacy and learning motivation, and self-efficacy was positively associated with motivation. Motivation and career orientation were positively associated with perceived readiness, with motivation having the larger estimated direct coefficient. Career orientation showed no significant additional association with motivation after accounting for ecosystem quality and self-efficacy. Ecosystem quality was indirectly associated with readiness through motivation and through the sequential pathway involving self-efficacy and motivation. The model explained 41.5% of the variance in perceived readiness.The study contributes an integrated operationalisation of university-based digital financial learning quality and distinguishes learning-related associations from those of career orientation. The findings inform potential priorities for coordinating digital platforms, relevant financial content, academic support, practical learning, and competency-based career guidance. For universities and financial institutions, the study offers evidence to guide collaboration on graduate preparation and a foundation for evaluating how perceived readiness relates to demonstrated workplace competence.

Over the last decade, there has been a visible surge of students participating in and leading different forms of activism. Following the cultural reckoning of 2020, the United States saw a rise in awareness and engagement in activism among young individuals. Continuing this trend, higher education institutions have seen an increase in on-campus demonstrations in recent years. Given the recent increase in activism, political engagement, and the globalization of social issues, this study examined how attitudes, beliefs, individual factors, and prior behaviors relate to undergraduate students’ willingness to engage in different forms of activism (i.e., conventional and high-risk). Across both forms of activism, institutional advocacy (i.e., the behavioral targeting of institutional racism) was the most consistent unique predictor of a student's willingness to engage in activism. Need for cognition and individual advocacy were significantly and positively related to conventional activism, whereas political orientation was negatively related to it. Social justice orientation was significantly and negatively related to high-risk activism.