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

Adolescence is identified as a key period for identity development, but anthropological literature hints to 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 study investigates how adolescents in England and Japan perceive and engage with their environments, with aims to identify similarities/differences that could explain cross-cultural variations in identity development. Using autophotography, teenagers aged 13-15 years across 10 schools in England and Japan documented and explained important aspects of their lives. We applied template analysis to qualitatively analyse 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,” emphasising 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 point to 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.