Influence of Demographic Variables on Reasoning Ability, Academic Stress and Achievement in Mathematics

Abstract

The present study investigates the influence of demographic variables on reasoning ability, academic stress and achievement in mathematics among higher secondary school students. Mathematics achievement is considered as one of the most important indicators of academic success because it reflects students’ logical thinking, analytical skills and problem-solving capacity. However, several demographic and psychological factors influence students’ mathematical performance. This study specifically examines how gender, locality, type of school, parental educational qualification and family income affect reasoning ability, academic stress and mathematics achievement. This study adopts a quantitative research approach using the descriptive survey method. A sample of 310 higher secondary students were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Standardized tools were used to measure reasoning ability, academic stress and mathematics achievement. Statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that demographic variables significantly influenced students’ reasoning ability, academic stress and mathematics achievement. Male students demonstrated comparatively higher reasoning ability and mathematics achievement, whereas female students experienced greater academic stress. Urban and private school students exhibited higher mathematics achievement than rural and government school students. Parental educational qualification and family income also significantly influenced the study variables. The study concluded that demographic and environmental factors play an important role in shaping students’ cognitive abilities, stress levels and academic achievement. Educational institutions should therefore develop supportive academic environments that address students’ diverse demographic backgrounds.