Maths motivation predicts STEM career choice in young adults better than maths anxiety

As the UK experiences a widening skills gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields, understanding the psychological underpinnings of STEM career choices is increasingly critical. Here, we examined the joint role of maths anxiety (MA) and maths motivation (MM; self-efficacy and interest in maths) on STEM career choice in emerging adulthood using self-reported data from 7,908 Twins Early Development Study participants collected at ages ~16 (MM), ~18 (MA) and ~21 (STEM career choice). We found that MA and MM were associated with STEM career choice (r=-0.23 and r=0.28, respectively). However, MM was a stronger independent predictor for STEM career choice (OR=2.11) than MA (OR=0.79), which did not predict STEM career choice after adjusting for maths achievement. Notably, MM was predictive of STEM career choices in both male (OR=1.95) and female (OR=2.72) cohorts, while MA showed a predictive relationship only in the male cohort (OR=0.63). These results highlight the importance of nurturing maths motivation in interventions designed to bridge the STEM skills gap for all genders. Future research should consider the co-development of maths anxiety and maths motivation across development to better understand their influence on STEM career paths.