We investigated gender differences in mental rotation performance in younger and older adolescents and effects of stereotype threat activation and a short mindfulness induction. Two hundred fifty younger adolescents from grades 5, 6, and 7 (119 boys) and 152 older adolescents from grades 10, 11, and 12 (80 boys) were divided into four groups with or without a mindfulness induction and with or without stereotype threat activation. All participants solved a mental rotation test and filled out a questionnaire about their gender stereotype beliefs and perceived abilities of masculine and feminine activities. Results illustrate that older adolescents outperformed younger adolescents, and gender differences in favor of males appeared only in the older age group. Independent of gender, the mindfulness induction had a significantly positive effect on adolescents’ mental rotation performance that was significant only in the older age group. No effect of the stereotype activation was found. For gender stereotype beliefs and perceived abilities of gendered activities, the mindfulness intervention enhanced male stereotype beliefs and participants’ perceived ability of masculine activities. A short mindfulness induction seems to have an enhancing effect on a subsequently performed stereotypically masculine cognitive task and consequently on adolescents’ male stereotype beliefs and their perceived ability in masculine activities.

我们调查了年轻和年长青少年心理旋转表现的性别差异以及刻板印象威胁激活和短期正念诱导的影响。252 名 5、6 和 7 年级的年轻青少年（119 名男孩）和 152 名 10、11 和 12 年级的年长青少年（80 名男孩）被分为四组，有或没有正念诱导，有或没有刻板印象威胁激活。所有参与者都完成了一项心理旋转测试，并填写了一份关于他们的性别刻板印象信念和男性化和女性化活动感知能力的问卷。结果表明，年龄较大的青少年的表现优于年轻的青少年，而有利于男性的性别差异仅出现在年龄较大的年龄组中。不分性别，正念诱导对青少年的心理旋转表现有显着的积极影响，这仅在年龄较大的年龄组中才显着。没有发现刻板印象激活的影响。对于性别刻板印象信念和性别活动的感知能力，正念干预增强了男性刻板印象信念和参与者对男性化活动的感知能力。简短的正念诱导似乎对随后执行的刻板男性认知任务有增强作用，因此对青少年的男性刻板印象信念和他们在男性活动中的感知能力有增强作用。对于性别刻板印象信念和性别活动的感知能力，正念干预增强了男性刻板印象信念和参与者对男性化活动的感知能力。简短的正念诱导似乎对随后执行的刻板男性认知任务有增强作用，因此对青少年的男性刻板印象信念和他们在男性活动中的感知能力有增强作用。对于性别刻板印象信念和性别活动的感知能力，正念干预增强了男性刻板印象信念和参与者对男性化活动的感知能力。简短的正念诱导似乎对随后执行的刻板男性认知任务有增强作用，因此对青少年的男性刻板印象信念和他们在男性活动中的感知能力有增强作用。