Water visits boost mental wellbeing, study finds

Visiting a body of water can improve mental health most when people feel safe there and enter the water, according to a study reported by ERR. Researchers, including scientists from the Estonian University of Life Sciences, analysed survey data from more than 17,000 visits to bodies of water in 19 countries.

The study examined how such visits affected psychological recovery and people’s sense of connection with nature. While sandy beaches and rivers were most effective at restoring concentration, all 17 types of water bodies included in the study had a positive effect on mental wellbeing. Even densely built waterfront promenades provided relief.

Stress levels fell most among people who spent three hours by the water. The results also showed that swimming or taking part in water sports provided greater mental restoration than simply walking or sitting on the shore.

The researchers said the findings may be explained by people’s sense of safety. Because water can also be dangerous, people must first feel secure in the environment before the brain can relax. Direct physical contact with water may help people distance themselves from everyday concerns and focus on the present, interrupting cycles of negative thoughts.

The study also found a link between recovery and a sense of nature. The more rested people felt, the stronger their connection with their surroundings, which in turn helped their brains recover further.

The findings were published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning.