A 2016 study in Wellington found that residents with ocean views had lower levels of psychological distress. For every 10% increase in how much blue water people could see, the researchers found a one-third point reduction on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (used to predict anxiety and mood disorders).
Catherine de Lange is a science author, specialising in bioscience. Her latest book is Brain Power: Everything you need to know for a healthy, happy brain. Catherine's also the magazine editor for New Scientist, and her work's also seen in The Observer, The Telegraph, the journal Nature and the BBC.
Photo: Bernard Spragg. CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
