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Understanding Health Risk Comprehension: The Role of Math Anxiety, Subjective Numeracy, and Objective Numeracy

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  • Jonathan J. Rolison

    (Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK)

  • Kinga Morsanyi

    (School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, GB, UK)

  • Ellen Peters

    (School of Journalism and Communication, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA)

Abstract

Background. Numeracy skills are important for medical decision making as lower numeracy is associated with misinterpreting statistical health risks. Math anxiety, characterized by negative emotions about numerical tasks, and lower subjective numeracy (i.e., self-assessments of numerical competence) are also associated with poor risk comprehension. Objective. To explore independent and mediated associations of math anxiety, numerical ability, and subjective numeracy with risk comprehension and to ascertain whether their associations are specific to the health domain. Methods. Objective numeracy was measured with a 14-item test. Math anxiety and subjective numeracy were assessed with self-report scales. Risk comprehension was measured with a 12-item test. In experiment 1, risk comprehension items were limited to scenarios in the health domain. In experiment 2, participants were randomly assigned to receive numerically equivalent risk comprehension items in either a health or nonhealth domain. Results. Linear regression analyses revealed that individuals with higher objective numeracy were more likely to respond correctly to the risk comprehension items, as were individuals with higher subjective numeracy. Higher math anxiety was associated with a lower likelihood of correct responding when controlling for objective numeracy but not when controlling for subjective numeracy. Mediation analyses indicated that math anxiety may undermine risk comprehension in 3 ways, including through 1) objective numeracy, 2) subjective numeracy, and 3) objective and subjective numeracy in serial, with subjective numeracy mediating the association between objective numeracy and risk comprehension. Findings did not differ by domain. Conclusions. Math anxiety, objective numeracy, and subjective numeracy are associated with risk comprehension through unique pathways. Education initiatives for improving health risk comprehension may be most effective if jointly aimed at tackling numerical ability as well as negative emotions and self-evaluations related to numeracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan J. Rolison & Kinga Morsanyi & Ellen Peters, 2020. "Understanding Health Risk Comprehension: The Role of Math Anxiety, Subjective Numeracy, and Objective Numeracy," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 40(2), pages 222-234, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:40:y:2020:i:2:p:222-234
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X20904725
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    1. repec:cup:judgdm:v:4:y:2009:i:1:p:20-33 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Charles, Cathy & Gafni, Amiram & Whelan, Tim, 1997. "Shared decision-making in the medical encounter: What does it mean? (or it takes at least two to tango)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 681-692, March.
    3. Ellen Peters & Brittany Shoots-Reinhard & Mary Kate Tompkins & Dan Schley & Louise Meilleur & Aleksander Sinayev & Martin Tusler & Laura Wagner & Jennifer Crocker, 2017. "Improving numeracy through values affirmation enhances decision and STEM outcomes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, July.
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    1. Boban Melović & Slavica Mitrović Veljković & Dragana Ćirović & Tamara Backović Vulić & Marina Dabić, 2022. "Entrepreneurial decision-making perspectives in transition economies – tendencies towards risky/rational decision-making," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1739-1773, December.
    2. Anne Maaike Mulders & Frank Tubergen, 2023. "The Role of Education in Native Dutch Adolescents’ Muslim Population Size Perceptions," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 1137-1156, September.
    3. Wändi Bruine de Bruin & Aulona Ulqinaku & Jimena Llopis & Matteo Santangelo Ravà, 2023. "Beyond High-Income Countries: Low Numeracy Is Associated with Older Adult Age around the World," Post-Print hal-04185867, HAL.

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