Learning Objective #1: know how social and cultural influences on the health related behaviours for international students.

Learning Objective #2: undertake a useful health promotion program for international students.

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There is little understanding of the potential impact of an unfamiliar culture and environment on students' health related behaviors, despite the large number of international students studying abroad. The purpose of this study was to determine the health related behaviors and how they changed over time of Taiwanese students studying in the United Kingdom and Taiwan. Data were collected at three months and nine months following commencement of their study program, using a questionnaire survey. A total of 126 students completed twice on-line questionnaires, giving a 66% response rate. Significant differences occurred in aspects of health related behaviors with Taiwanese postgraduate students studying in the United Kingdom becoming less concerned about healthy living. The survey data showed that the health related behaviors of students in the United Kingdom were significantly different to students in Taiwan, with the former group tending to take less responsibility for their health, tending to taking less physically activities, and tending to consume more cigarettes and alcohol. In reflecting on the health related behaviors of the international students, most adaptation involved the adoption of new behavior patterns. A major concern for health professionals is that studying in the United Kingdom may have the potential to encourage long-term indulgence in habits that are detrimental to health such as smoking and drinking behaviors. This may be less worrying if they were context-dependent. However, an important issue arising from this study is that international students tend to maintain risky behaviors after their return home. The implications of these findings for health promotion are discussed.