新奇事件簿 住在海边的人更幸福（在线收听）

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.

新研究表明住在海边的人更快乐。来自英国埃克塞特大学的研究人员表示住在沿海地区的人比住在内陆地区的人心理健康状况更好。这是针对富人和穷人的研究。研究人员查看了来自25,963人的调查数据。这些调查询问人们关于他们幸福、生活方式以及收入的问题。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Jo Garrett博士表示：“我们的研究首次表明住在靠近海岸的贫困家庭很少出现精神疾病的症状。”她称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。Garrett博士还补充道：“当提及精神健康时，这一保护区可以发挥有益的作用，帮助在高收入和低收入者之间建立公平的竞争环境。另一名研究人员Mathew White博士称：“我们需要帮助政策制定者了解如何将城镇“蓝色”空间福利效益最大化。我们需要确保每个人都能获得公平和包容的机会，同时又不能破坏我们脆弱的沿海环境。”