Mark Agnew
Hiking and kayaking are both great for mental health, but which is better? Photos: Mark Agnew
Green Spaces vs Blue Spaces and the effect on mental health
It is almost common knowledge now that time in nature is good for your mental health. The Japanese have a word for it called "Forest Bathing" and doctors are even allowed to prescribe time in nature for mental health.
But nature is varied - very varied in fact. And when we think of forest bathing, we think of dense green lush woodlands. What about water, or coastal areas?
Getting into nature has been very important for my mental health. I've spoken openly about a mental crash I experienced in 2019 and how challenging myself in the outdoors was a crucial part of my journey back to equilibrium.
Mainly, I was hiking and kayaking. I've begun to wonder - is one better than the other for mental health?
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Researchers call forests, grasslands and other similar nature areas "Green Spaces". Nature with water, like coasts, rivers and lochs are called "Blue Spaces". And as it turns out, not all spaces are equal.
Both are good for your mental health, but it appears blue spaces are better.
A number of studies are beginning to suggest blue spaces are more beneficial for your mental health.
For example, one study in 2016, which bizarrely studies the subject along with bird diversity, found that people living near blue spaces had lower stress levels than those living near green spaces (there was no correlation between bird diversity and wellbeing).
If you think, "well, houses on the coast or by a lake are more expensive, so really it's people with higher incomes that have lower stress", think again. Another study, examining the people of Wellington in New Zealand, came to a similar conclusion while accounting for age, sex, personal income, neighbourhood population density, housing quality, crime and deprivation.
"To validate, we also tested whether visibility of blue space was associated missing teeth in the same sample," the study said (there was no correlation).
A much larger study - and one that is unique because the reports on mental state were "live" - followed 20,000 people using an app. At random points during the day, researchers contacted and asked the subjects for reports on their mental health. They then compared the responses to their location in relation to nature.
Unsurprisingly, people were happier in or near any natural environment. But the results were even more pronounced around blue spaces than green spaces.
If looking at blue spaces is good for you, imagine being in blue spaces, like kayaking.
Or what about swimming - it is great for your mental health. And the good news is, despite the fad of plunging into ice cold water, there isn't actually any difference if you swim in cold water.
One study found "blood pressure and plasma catecholamine [a hormone linked to stress responses] levels decreased during winter swimming practice over one winter, but these changes were also observed in the control persons. Plasma serotonin was lower in the spring in both groups".
Is kayaking better for your mental health than hiking?
I suppose, according to the research water sports may be slightly better for your mental health than hiking or other green space sports.
But the reality is its arbitrary. Both are good for your mental health. Very good in fact!
So, do which ever you enjoy and don't get bogged down in the semantics.
And what's more, which ever is more accessible to you may be better anyway - is the stress of driving two hours to blue space worth the added boost against a hike near your house? I can't find research on it, but I know which I'd prefer.
Also, hiking is more accessible because all you need is a pair of shoes and access to trails, rather than a costly kayak and the experience to use it.
Both blue spaces and green spaces are good for you. It is literally medicine. Even a short walk in nature, just 20 minutes, can reduce anxiety. Taking exercise, like hiking or kayaking, also produces endorphins which will improve your mental wellbeing too. So, don't go picking a sport based on the percentages bonuses of one or the other, just get out into nature and enjoy yourself - whatever that means to you.