Adolescence as a key period of identity development and connectedness: a comparative autophotography study in England and Japan

Emily H. Emmott, Yasuo Ihara, Yudai Tokumasu, Mari Nozaki, Atsuko Saito, Tetsuya Kawamoto, Shingo Ito, Anushé Hassan, Laura J. Brown, Thea Dennett, Andrew Crane, Catherine Borra, Amanda Nesci and Masahito Morita

LSE Research Online Documents on Economics from London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library

Abstract: Adolescence is identified as a key period for identity development, but anthropological literature hints at cross-cultural variations. Past research suggests Japanese adolescents may experience more identity exploration/confusion compared to Western counterparts, but the reasons behind these findings remain unclear. This comparative study investigates how adolescents in England and Japan perceive and engage with their environments, and aims to identify similarities/differences that could explain cross-cultural variations in identity development. Using autophotography, 98 teenagers aged 13 to 15 years across 10 schools in England and Japan documented important aspects of their lives. We applied template analysis to qualitatively analyze these photographs/texts. Overall, we identified two shared themes between countries: “This Is Me,” reflecting personal identity through self-discovery and skill development, and “Connectedness,” emphasizing relationships and belonging. A Japan-specific theme, “Reflections Through Time,” captured the broader temporal lens of Japanese adolescents, sometimes with a sense of melancholy. This notably differed from English adolescents in our study, who focused on the present in a positive manner. These findings suggest cultural differences in how adolescents engage with their environments, which may contribute to cross-cultural variations in identity development. Our findings point to the importance of biocultural approaches in developmental research by considering the role of culture.

Keywords: autophotography; belonging; connectedness; England; identity development; Japan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 J61 L25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34 pages
Date: 2025-08-06
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Published in Journal of Adolescent Research, 6, August, 2025. ISSN: 0743-5584

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ehl:lserod:129137

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