Bilingualism as a Cognitive Shield Against Mathematics Anxiety: A Theoretical Framework and Research Agenda

Resumen

This conceptual preprint proposes a revised theoretical framework describing how bilingual experience may buffer the negative impact of Mathematics Anxiety (MA) on cognitive performance. Moving beyond the binary “bilingual advantage” debate, we redefine the Cognitive Shield as the synergistic convergence of three mechanisms: neural efficiency, adaptive flexibility, and socioemotional resilience. These mechanisms are grounded in established theories of bilingual executive control, Attentional Control Theory, and Stress Inoculation Theory. The framework explicitly addresses critical confounders, including socioeconomic status (SES) and selection bias, and articulates a set of falsifiable hypotheses. Finally, we outline a research agenda designed to distinguish between additive and multiplicative protective effects, specifying the statistical power and instrumentation required for empirical validation.

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Cómo citar (APA 7)

Montilla, M. (2025). Bilingualism as a Cognitive Shield Against Mathematics Anxiety: A Theoretical Framework and Research Agenda. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/52pjb_v1