ArticleBMC public health2025
Being a Swedish university student in a country far away: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundIn Sweden, during the school years of 2021/22, 11,900 women and 8,100 men chose to spend a semester abroad; however, there has been little research on how they experience their time abroad and what difficulties they might face. Some studies have shown that Swedish exchange students consume alcohol to a higher degree and indulge in risky sexually behaviour while on exchange studies. Therefore, our aim was to explore Swedish exchange students' experiences from a semester abroad.
methodsA qualitative design with semi-structured interviews. Eleven students who had spent parts of their education abroad participated in the study. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data.
resultsThe exchange students experienced stress due to a high workload and found that cultural differences could be both frustrating and fascinating. Some exchange students experienced minor illnesses and homesickness. The exchange students expressed a responsible view on sex and emphasized using protection against STIs while engaging in casual sex. Some enjoyed drinking alcohol to varying degrees and meeting new friends while abroad. However, they rarely engaged in excessive drinking; instead, they adopted a more spontaneous and social drinking pattern. Some experienced violence, such as robbery and harassment, and most took several safety measures, including being extra careful to lock their doors, not going out alone, and using public transport instead of taxis.
conclusionSwedish exchange students described stress and casual alcohol consumption as common experiences. They emphasized the importance of STI protection as well as safety measures to avoid exposure to violence. Reports of alcohol consumption, casual sex, violence, minor illnesses, and homesickness highlight the challenges faced during exchange studies. These findings indicate potential risks associated with being an exchange student.
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