The mathematical abilities of young children in the context of hemodynamic changes, executive function, home and school environment

Date

2025-3-12

Author

Hamamcı, Beyza

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Early mathematics abilities predict later life success and are influenced by biological, cognitive, and environmental factors. This study aims to investigate the relationship between children’s mathematical abilities and hemodynamic changes in the parietal lobe related to math performances, child’s executive function, and home and school math environments. Additionally, it aims to build a model of children's mathematical abilities. Data were obtained from 239 children (aged 51-74 months), their parents, and teachers across 81 schools in Istanbul during the 2023-2024 academic year. Test of Early Mathematics Abilities-3rd Edition, fNIRS math task, EF-Touch, Early Mathematics Questionnaire, Mathematics Activities in the Classroom Scale, and Mathematical Development Belief Scale were used as data collection tools. Results indicated the mean level of oxyhemoglobin in the left intraparietal sulcus during addition tasks was associated with children’s addition performance. Additionally, a moderate positive relationship was found between children's executive function performance and their math performances. The home math environment (i.e., parent-child activities and beliefs about math) showed a low positive correlation with children's math abilities. However, school-related mathematical factors were not directly associated with children's mathematical abilities. The structural equation model, which incorporated children’s executive functions as well as home and school environments to predict mathematical abilities, demonstrated good fit indices. Furthermore, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility combined with mean oxyhemoglobin levels in the left intraparietal sulcus, accounted for 22% of the variance in math abilities. Overall, these findings emphasize the combined influence of biological, cognitive, and environmental factors, especially the home environment, in shaping children’s mathematical abilities.

Subject Keywords

math abilities, hemodynamic changes, executive function, home math environment, school math environment

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/113772

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis