1 Pathological Fear of Students in Mathematics: Gender Diferences Edelyn A. Cadorna, Ph.D. delwinkri@gmail.com University of Northern Philippines World Heritage City of Vigan Joseph G. Taban, MAME jgtaban@unp.edu.ph University of Northern Philippines World Heritage City of Vigan Marieta Gavino, MAME mgav09@gmail.com University of Northern Philippines World Heritage City of Vigan Abstract Te study explored the pathological fear in Mathematics of male and female college students. Te study utilized the mixed method of research with 199 frst year non-Math students as participants to determine the causes, efects, and ways of overcoming this fear. It made use of the cross-sectional design to explore the strategies of overcoming this pathological fear among the students. Results revealed that the students fear Math because of the infuence of their friends, personal capacity, and the complex nature of Math. Te male and female students difer in the prime cause of pathological fear. Te cause as identifed for the males is nature of the subject while personal capacity for the females. Te students’ fear in Mathematics afects their performance in the subject. Te main efect of the students’ fear in Math is recalling what had been learned when preparing for an examination. As a way of overcoming this fear, the female students cited that the teaching of mathematics should be made enjoyable. Te male students suggested that they should be taught how mathematics is applied in everyday life situations. Te students also need their parents’ support, encouragement, and motivation. On the part of the teachers, the students suggest the use of appropriate teaching strategies to make mathematics learning more meaningful. Keywords: pathological fear, mathematics, gender diferences, mixed method Introduction Mathematics is a vital subject in all levels of education. It is a fundamental subject in the K-12 curriculum. In the Philippines, mathematics is a general education subject in the tertiary education. It is a required subject because of its role in a person’s success in all felds like business, the humanities, the arts, social and behavioral sciences, and in technical and non-technical felds. Mathematics is also a very crucial tool in the study of specialized courses like physics, chemistry, and engineering. Moreover, the importance of mathematical skills is seen in one’s personal life like in daily life activities such as budgeting, marketing, payments, the fling of income tax returns, interpreting charts, and graphs, and