Little is known about the factors that influence engagement for adolescents participating in informal youth science programs. This study examined longitudinal reciprocal associations between adolescents’ science engagement, interest, and growth mindset. Participants were adolescents (M_age = 15.06, SD = 1.82 years, 66.8% female) from the UK (n = 168) and the US (n = 299). A cross lagged path analysis indicated that participants’ science growth mindset at baseline was positively related to interest, and engagement at year 1, and science interest at year 1 was positively related to growth mindset at year 2. Additionally, girls had lower science growth mindsets than boys. This evidence suggests that informal programs may encourage positive STEM trajectories by fostering engagement, growth mindset and interest.

关于影响青少年参与非正式青年科学计划的因素知之甚少。本研究调查了青少年科学参与、兴趣和成长心态之间的纵向相互关联。参与者是来自 英国 ( n =  168) 和_美国 ( n = 299）。交叉滞后路径分析表明，参与者基线的科学成长心态与第一年的兴趣和参与度呈正相关，第一年的科学兴趣与第二年的成长心态呈正相关。此外，女孩的科学成长心态较低比男孩。这一证据表明，非正式项目可以通过培养参与度、成长心态和兴趣来鼓励积极的 STEM 轨迹。