Visits to the beach psychologically restore us, enabling us to better handle the stress of everyday life, study finds
Earlier studies have already proven the ability of natural environments to psychologically restore us, reduce heart rate, improve mood and concentration, and boost our sense of overall well-being and quality of life, but Hipp’s study looked specifically at the power of the surf and sand.
“Blue spaces” — such as riversides and the seashore — afford visitors the opportunity to recover from stress and restore the mental faculties needed to meet the demands of everyday life, says the study, published in The Journal of Environmental Psychology.
But not all “blue spaces” are the same, Ripp and his team found. The level of restorativeness of coastal parks is dependent upon environmental quality.
“Mild temperature days and low tides offer the most restorative environments,” Hipp said.
Beachgoers were also three times less likely to find their visits rejuvenating if they perceived poor air or water quality.