There is a correlation between having a happy childhood and a better quality of life as an adult, and this correlation appears to be strengthened by exposure to coastal and inland waters like Adults who report improved mental health are more likely to have spent time as youngsters in and around coastal and inland waters like rivers and lakes (together referred to as blue spaces) in the new study based on data from 18 nations. There was a consistent finding across all of the countries. Evidence is mounting that adult time spent in green places, such as parks and woodlands, can reduce stress and improve mental health. We also know very little about the importance of early socialisation and blue spaces in shaping adult relationships. The European Center for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter oversaw the collection of data from the cross-sectional BlueHealth International Survey (BIS). More than 15,000 persons from 14 European countries and 4 other non-European count