Foreign living experience as a predictor of domestic travel behavior

Abstract

Travel behavior researchers have long been interested in various factors influencing how individuals make transportation decisions. Research has shown that foreign born residents and recent immigrants to the US exhibit significantly different travel behavior than native born populations in the same regions. This paper expands on that existing research by examining the travel behavior data of 662 students from Brigham Young University (52.1% of whom have lived outside the United States for more than 60 consecutive days). First the paper identifies if an individual’s experience living abroad results in a change in travel behavior upon their return to the United States; second, if the foreign location where the experience was gained influences any behavioral change, and if so which regions of the world produce the greatest influence?; and third, if the duration of an individual’s residence abroad affects their travel behavior and transportation perceptions upon returning to the United States. The analysis revealed that individuals who have lived abroad do exhibit a significant change in travel behavior upon returning to the United States, and the continent where the individual lived does significantly affect their change in travel behavior. However it appears that this change in behavior upon their return to the United States may be a regression to the mean, manifested by individuals adopting travel behavior similar to the transportation culture of their domestic environment. The location and duration of foreign experience does not have a significant impact on the current travel behavior of the individuals represented in this sample.