We evaluate the mass polarization term of the kinetic-energy operator for different three-body nuclear $AAB$ systems by employing the method of Faddeev equations in configuration space. For a three-boson system this term is determined by the difference of the doubled binding energy of the $AB$ subsystem $2E_{2}$ and the three-body binding energy $E_{3}(V_{AA}=0)$ when the interaction between the identical particles is omitted. In this case: $leftvert E_{3}(V_{AA}=0)rightvert >2leftvert E_{2}rightvert$. In the case of a system complicated by isospins(spins), such as the kaonic clusters $ K^{-}K^{-}p$ and $ppK^{-}$, the similar evaluation impossible. For these systems it is found that $leftvert E_{3}(V_{AA}=0)rightvert <2leftvert E_{2}rightvert$. A model with an $AB$ potential averaged over spin(isospin) variables transforms the later case to the first one. The mass polarization effect calculated within this model is essential for the kaonic clusters. Besides we have obtained the relation $|E_3|le |2E_2|$ for the binding energy of the kaonic clusters.