Living closer to the beach is associated with better socioemotional development in young boys

Natural outdoor environments such as green and blue spaces have increasingly been seen as key health and wellbeing determinants for adults. However, it is unclear if these effects are seen in young children. We examined the associations between access to natural green and blue space and young children’s socioemotional development. Cross-sectional baseline data for 1525 young children (median age 3.3 years) in the PLAYCE cohort study were examined. The parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties score was used as a measure of socioemotional development. High-resolution aerial imagery and Geographic Information Systems were used to identify total percentage of neighbourhood vegetation and vegetation components (grass, shrubs, and trees) and total percentage of blue space (ocean, riverways and lakes and swamps) for 1600m network service areas and 5000m buffer areas around children’s residences. Road network distance to the closest beach, patrolled beach and dog beach were also calculated. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between green and blue space variables and children’s total difficulties score, adjusting for covariates. Several associations were observed amongst young boys’ socioemotional development and distance to the closest beach and patrolled beach, with boys’ socioemotional development improving with decreasing distance to the beach even after adjusting for neighbourhood socioeconomic status. No significant associations were found between the amount of neighbourhood blue space or vegetation within the 1600m or 5000m service area and preschooler social and emotional development. These findings highlight the potential benefit of living closer to a beach for socioemotional development, particularly for young boys. Our findings have implications for urban planning in terms of the need for improved access to beaches and the protection of natural environments to support young children’s development. • We examined if access to natural green and blue space is associated with young children’s (age 2-5 years) socioemotional development. • This study adds to existing research on the natural spaces and young children’s socioemotional development, extending this to blue spaces. • There were several small but significant associations between young boys’ socioemotional development and living closer to the coast. • These findings highlight the potential benefit of living closer to a beach for young children’s socioemotional development. • Whilst individual level associations were small, the collective impact of these findings at a community level could be meaningful for urban planners and policy makers.