Identity Search: Interpersonal Relationships and Relational Identities of Always-Single Japanese Women over Time

In recent years, an increasing number of Japanese women have remained single. This study investigated their relational identities using the communication theory of identity. The study examined follow-up interviews with 20 always-single women originally interviewed in Japan 4 years earlier. Analyses identified subthemes: a shift in family dynamics, position in the ie (family), and committed yet uncommitted relationships. These subthemes underlined an overarching theme of acceptance of various relationships and lifestyles. In turn, we argue that self-acceptance of this unconventional identity and the resulting identity gaps are associated with positive outcomes managing the dialectic challenges of this identity.