Living near water is a good secret to happiness
Proximity to water – especially the sea – is associated with many positive physical and mental well-being measures, from higher levels of vitamin D to better social relations. “Many of the processes are the same as with green space – with some added benefits,” says Dr Mathew White, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter and an environmental psychologist with BlueHealth, a program researching the health and wellbeing benefits of blue space across 18 (mostly European) countries.
White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health, well-being, and happiness.
There are the beneficial environmental factors typical of aquatic environments, such as less polluted air and more sunlight
People who live by water tend to be more physically active – not just with water sports, but walking and cycling
(And this is where blue space seems to have an edge over other natural environments) Water has a psychologically restorative effect. Spending time in and around aquatic environments has consistently been shown to lead to significantly higher benefits, in inducing positive mood and reducing negative mood and stress, than green space doe
