Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside
Lockdown has led many of us to want to live near water to improve our wellbeing – but as Pat Hagan discovers, it may be possible to reap the mental and physical benefts without actually upping sticks
BRITAIN is on the move – thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Record numbers of people are looking to move to the coast, with demand for seaside properties soaring in recent months.
As well as physically distancing themselves from what they see as urban Covid-19 hotspots, many are seeking to bolster psychological wellbeing by living closer to nature and the sea.
Countless studies show living near water – the ocean, lakes or rivers – has a profoundly positive effect on overall health.
In 2018, for example, a major Canadian study involving more than one million adults found living in what scientists call “blue space” (anywhere in close proximity to water) are up to 17 per cent less likely to die prematurely from any illness than those living inland or well away from water sources.
The biggest effect was seen in the reduction of deaths from stroke and respiratory illnesses, such as asthma or emphysema.
Other research, meanwhile, shows people living within a mile or two of the coast are 20 per cent less likely to suffer depression or anxiety than those living 30 miles or more away.
Such is the power of water that the European Union is funding a major research project – called BlueHealth – that involves nearly 100 researchers in nine different countries investigating the benefits of proximity.
But now there is good news for the millions of us without easy access to “blue space”. Scientists say the same health benefits we get from watching waves crash against the shore can also be obtained from being near any kind of water source – such as a fountain in a park, a canal running through a busy city or even just a pond in your own back garden.
“Just being near man-made water features or fountains can help to regulate stress in terms of reducing blood pressure, lowering heart rate and making us more mentally alert,” said British scientist Dr Jenny Roe, director of the Centre for Design and Health at the University of Virginia in the US. “Water has a superrestorative effect. Being in any green space can have a positive impact on our psychological wellbeing. But a green space with water seems to increase the benefit.”
Dr Roe believes one reason water is a more potent boost than parks or countryside alone is because it evokes warm childhood memories for many people, perhaps of being by the beach with family or just paddling in a stream with friends. Being reminded of such social bonding can help overcome mental health problems. But psychologists also believe water is a key component in what’s called Attention Restoration Theory.
This is the idea, put forward in the 80s, that exposure to nature is not just enjoyable but actually essential for helping us improve our ability to focus and concentrate on other things in our lives. The theory is that, after the stresses and strains of a busy day in the office, or revising for exams, time spent in blue or green space helps to “rewire” the brain so it can cope with its workload.
But the secret to water’s success, says Dr Roe, is it has to be moving rather than static. She says this is essential because it generates a level of fascination with the water that underpins the way Attention Restoration Theory works.
“Splashing droplets and flowing patterns and movement of water promote fascination through a sense of curiosity and wonder. This fascination aids in our recovery from the cognitive fatigue we suffer from constant, highly directed attention needed to complete tasks and make decisions.”
Tests carried out by Dr Roe and her team have revealed proximity to water may even alter the brain’s electrical activity, triggering slower frequency waves associated with relaxation.
Experts recommend being in blue space for at least two hours a week to reap the full benefits. But what if you’re shielding, disabled or simply lack the means of accessing waterrich areas?
In Sweden, scientists at Lund University are exploring the use of virtual reality headsets to help this group revisit coastal areas, sit by a fountain or even go diving – without getting wet.