New research suggests that people who live close to the ocean or sea are happier. Researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK say people who live in coastal areas have better mental health than people who live inland. This is for rich people and poor people. The researchers looked at data from surveys of 25,963 people. The surveys asked people questions about their happiness, lifestyle and income. They found that those who live within one kilometer of the coast are 22 per cent less likely to show any signs of mental health problems. People who lived more than 50 kilometers from the coast had more symptoms of mental health problems. The researchers found that poorer people living within sight of the coast were around 40 per cent less likely to have mental health symptoms than those who lived inland.

最新研究表明，住在海边的人更快乐。英国埃克塞特大学的研究人员称，生活在沿海地区的人比生活在内陆地区的人有更好的心理健康。这是为富人和穷人准备的。研究人员查看了25,963人的调查数据。调查询问了人们关于幸福、生活方式和收入的问题。他们发现，那些住在距海岸一公里以内的人出现精神健康问题的可能性要低22%。居住在距海岸50公里以上的人有更多精神健康问题的症状。研究人员发现，与居住在内陆的人相比，生活在海岸附近的穷人出现精神健康症状的可能性要低40%左右。

Lead researcher of the study, doctor Jo Garrett, said: "Our research suggests, for the first time, that people in poorer households living close to the coast experience fewer symptoms of mental health disorders." She said the area along coasts seemed to protect people from experiencing mental health problems. They seemed to improve people's health and wellbeing. Dr Garrett added: "When it comes to mental health, this protective zone could play a useful role in helping to level the playing field between those on high and low incomes." Another researcher, Dr Mathew White, said: "We need to help policy makers understand how to maximize the wellbeing benefits of 'blue' spaces in towns and cities. We need to ensure that access is fair and inclusive for everyone, while not damaging our fragile coastal environments."

该研究的首席研究员乔•加勒特博士说:“我们的研究首次表明，生活在沿海较贫困家庭的人患精神疾病的症状较轻。”她说，沿海地区似乎可以保护人们免受心理健康问题的困扰。它们似乎改善了人们的健康和幸福。加勒特博士补充说:“在心理健康方面，这一保护区域可以起到有益的作用，有助于在高收入和低收入人群之间建立公平的竞争环境。”另一位研究人员马修·怀特博士说:“我们需要帮助政策制定者了解如何最大化城镇‘蓝色’空间的福利效益。我们需要确保公平和包容所有人，同时保护我们脆弱的沿海环境不被破坏。”