Walking among green trees and plants is beneficial for psychological well-being, as previous scientific studies have shown. But if you want to get rid of everyday stress and recharge your batteries, the best place is not the forest, but the sea, according to a recent study published by the German website “stern”.
People who live near seas and rivers tend to be happier and healthier than residents of other regions. This is what emerges from a recent study conducted by environmental psychologist Matthew White, of the University of Exeter in Great Britain. With his research group, the psychologist interviewed more than 16,000 people from 18 countries about their living conditions and their physical and mental health.
happier than city dwellers
However, the current study by White and colleagues is not the only survey indicating a therapeutic effect of blue landscapes on humans. Researchers on Susana Morato of the London School of Economics and George McKerron of the University of Sussex launched a survey ten years ago, which ended with more than a million responses. The result was: that people in nature are always much happier than city dwellers. This is mainly true for areas with predominantly green areas such as forests, meadows and mountains, but especially for coastal areas. On the 100-point happiness scale, coastal areas scored about six points better than cities, and green nature areas were, on average, only two points better than urban areas.
In terms of green landscapes, this is nothing new. It is no coincidence that the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” is becoming more and more widespread in Western countries. According to several studies, the intense jungle experience, practiced in the Asian country since the 1980s, has a relaxing effect and can reduce stress hormones and blood pressure.
Being in nature brings with it many other benefits for human health. Scientists have been able to show that we become more alert, creative and relaxed when we spend a lot of time between green and blue landscapes.
What makes being by the sea better than walking in the woods?
According to the results of several studies conducted by environmental psychologist Matthew White, the sea encourages us to be more active. So it’s not enough just to be close to the water, to feel the positive effects, we also need to feel connected to nature there.
If being out in nature is a free choice and you enjoy the sea breeze, the effects can go as far as alleviating the symptoms of ADHD, anxiety disorders and depression. In the absence of physical presence, it is sufficient to mentally travel towards the sea. A 2017 study showed that people who had their teeth extracted felt less pain when they took a virtual walk on the beach.
There are many other hypotheses regarding this, as published in an article in “Spektrum”. Perhaps most commonly, the sea is characterized by constant movement and its appearance is constantly changing due to the movement of the waves and winds. We can quickly distract ourselves from negative thoughts through sight and noise through the harmony of an impressive landscape. This is substantially true for every human being, regardless of his social constitution and origin. A 2019 study showed that even low-income people do better than average if they live near the sea. According to the researchers, the relaxing effect of the sea can alleviate stressful and stressful living conditions.
The question remains: how do you feel when you are near the sea or dive into it?
