Developmental Relationship Between Sources of Self-Efficacy and Primary School Students' Mathematical Ability: The...

Although previous research has suggested a close relationship between sources of self-efficacy, mathematics self-efficacy, and student's mathematical ability, the developmental influential mechanism remains a subject of debate. We propose that mathematics self-efficacy plays a crucial role in sources of self-efficacy and mathematical ability. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the developmental relationships between sources of self-efficacy, mathematics self-efficacy, and mathematical ability in primary school students. In this study, 244 primary school students (Mean age = 11.45 years, SD = 0.95) were assessed using the Sources of Self-efficacy Scale, Mathematical Self-Efficacy Scale, and Mathematics Abilities Scale. All participants underwent one follow-up test with a 5-month interval. The results showed a mediating effect of mathematical self-efficacy between sources of self-efficacy and mathematical ability. According to the cross-lagged model, there is an interactive predictive effect between sources of self-efficacy and mathematical self-efficacy. Mathematical self-efficacy has a unidirectional prediction on mathematical ability. In conclusion, sources of self-efficacy affect mathematical ability through mathematical self-efficacy in primary school students. This study found a short-term longitudinal association between sources of self-efficacy, mathematical self-efficacy, and mathematical ability and suggested focusing on different information sources to prompt students' self-efficacy and mathematical ability in primary school.