"Living by the sea" is really healthier! A study from 15 countries reveals that residents living near the sea are 37.5% healthier
Many previous literatures have shown that frequent closeness to nature, such as watching the sea and climbing mountains, can promote a certain degree of mental health. But for people who actually live in coastal areas, are their health levels really better than those in urban areas? Literature published in “Communications Earth & Environment” confirms that whether going to the beach to see the sea or living near the seaside is related to better health.
Is “living by the sea” really healthier? Research reveals: Residents living near the sea are 37.5% healthier
A joint research team from the University of Vienna in Austria, the University of Exeter and the University of Birmingham in the UK conducted a survey among residents from 14 European countries and Australia. A total of more than 15,000 subjects were included in the study. Through questionnaire surveys and data analysis, the research team learned the correlation between the distance between residence and the seaside and personal health.
After controlling for variables such as age, gender and family income, the research team obtained preliminary results, that is, residents who live near the seaside do have better self-reported health. The highest improvement in health occurred among residents living less than 1 kilometer or 1-2 kilometers from the seaside, with an overall improvement of about 37.9%; as for residents living 2-5 kilometers, 5-10 kilometers, and 50-100 kilometers away from the seaside The degree of improvement was 6.7% and 18.2% respectively.
In addition, people who live within 1 kilometer from the coast report that their health status is “very good” and “good” are 1.22 times and 1.06 times better respectively than those who live more than 100 kilometers from the coast; on the contrary, , those who live more than 100 kilometers from the coast, the range of reporting their health status as “fair”, “bad” and “very bad” is 1.07 times, 1.19 times and 1.31 times higher than that of those living within 1 km from the coast.
It is worth noting that, even if they do not live in seaside areas, the subjects who go to seaside areas at least once a week are 2.6 times more likely to have “very good” or “good” health status than those who have never been to seaside areas. 1.36 times. As for the health status of those who have never been to coastal areas, the levels of “fair”, “poor” and “very bad” increased by 1.30 times, 2.13 times and 3.29 times respectively.
Household income has nothing to do with coastal residents’ health? Living by the sea won’t end health inequalities
Finally, the study attempts to clarify the impact of “household income” on residents near the sea and residents not near the sea. The results show that the general health status of seaside residents has nothing to do with an increase in total household income. This means that lower household income is associated with poorer health, regardless of whether or not one has been to coastal areas, and does not buffer against the reality of “health inequalities”. However, regardless of total income, subjects can achieve health benefits by frequently visiting or living in coastal areas. Natural lakes, streams and other water bodies may also provide similar effects.
Even though this study has the advantages of a high sample size and high population diversity, it still has limitations. For example, those who live in seaside areas may also be frequent visitors to the seaside, which results in a high degree of duplication between the two major groups. Furthermore, this study used subjects’ self-report questionnaires, and in the future, it does not rule out the use of more objective data, such as subjects’ medical records, as a basis for assessing their health.
Being in a blue space helps with mental health! Experts say surfing is more “healing for the body and mind” than mountain climbing
To sum up, in fact, there has been literature pointing out the correlation between coastal residents and mental health in the past. A study published in the “Journal of Environmental Psychology” by a research team from Exeter University in the UK surveyed more than 15,000 subjects in 14 European countries as well as Hong Kong, Canada, Australia and other places, and found that long-term exposure to beaches, rivers, lakes, etc. Children who spend time near “blue spaces” will have better mental health as adults.
In addition, the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego (NMCSD) also stated that previous research has shown that being in a blue space when engaging in water activities can make individuals more calm and emotional than the “green space” during mountain climbing. Symptoms can also be significantly improved; surfing (74% improvement) may be more effective in relieving severe depression than mountain climbing (47% improvement).
Even though many studies have confirmed the health benefits of being close to water, the public still needs to be reminded to pay attention to their own safety when playing in the water in summer. Children should never play in the water without parental supervision. When arranging water play activities, adults should also carefully choose and evaluate water safety measures, and never enter dangerous waters with prohibited signs. When playing in the water, you should always be alert to weather changes, evacuate when you need to, and don’t stay by chance.
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