biostudies-literatureStoeger HBundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung297-313https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12576871biostudies-literatureUnknown1552(1)In recent decades, there have been many campaigns to attract students to STEM study programs and jobs. However, there is little research on whether the target audiences are familiar with the STEM acronym, which specific STEM subject areas they associate with it, and the impact of these associations. We investigated students' familiarity with the STEM acronym and whether their associations of the STEM acronym with different STEM subject areas-mediated by their value beliefs-affected their academic elective intentions for STEM study programs and activities and their STEM choices of curriculum profiles at school. In a sample of eighth-grade students (n = 1163; 611 girls; 13.7 years), 72% reported familiarity with the STEM acronym. Students associated mathematics most strongly with the STEM acAnnals of the New York Academy of SciencesStudents' associations with the STEM acronym and their impact on value beliefs and STEM choices.PMC1257687116MF1091ABeer ALStoeger HZiegler AfalseStudents' associations with the STEM acronym and their impact on value beliefs and STEM choices.In recent decades, there have been many campaigns to attract students to STEM study programs and jobs. However, there is little research on whether the target audiences are familiar with the STEM acronym, which specific STEM subject areas they associate with it, and the impact of these associations. We investigated students' familiarity with the STEM acronym and whether their associations of the STEM acronym with different STEM subject areas-mediated by their value beliefs-affected their academic elective intentions for STEM study programs and activities and their STEM choices of curriculum profiles at school. In a sample of eighth-grade students (n = 1163; 611 girls; 13.7 years), 72% reported familiarity with the STEM acronym. Students associated mathematics most strongly with the STEM ac2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-05T06:51:22.644Z2026-05-13T14:29:02.071ZS-EPMC125768714085374110.1111/nyas.70018