Study finds coastal residents in England and Wales have worse midlife health outcomes
A UCL-led study published in BMJ Public Health reveals that midlife coastal residents in England and Wales face worse health outcomes, including a 20% higher risk of multiple chronic conditions for those born in 1958. This disparity is driven by selective migration and high neighborhood deprivation rather than coastal living itself. Economic decline in tourism and fishing, combined with transport barriers, exacerbates these health inequalities, prompting researchers to call for targeted public health and economic interventions.
Coastal midlife health outcomes
▪Participants born in England and Wales in 1958 who lived in or moved to a coastal area in midlife were at least 20% more likely to have multiple long-term conditions than those who moved away between ages 16 and 42.
▪The study analyzed health data from 13,691 participants in the 1958 National Child Development Study and 14,683 participants in the 1970 British Cohort Study.
▪A study led by University College London researchers found that people living by the coast in midlife in England and Wales are more likely to have worse health.
Selective migration patterns
▪People who moved away from coastal areas in England and Wales before the age of 42 tended to have better health than those who moved to or stayed in coastal areas.
▪Selective migration trends show that individuals with worse health are more likely to remain in or move to coastal areas in England and Wales.
Neighborhood deprivation levels
▪People who grew up in the most deprived coastal neighborhoods in England and Wales were three times more likely to remain on the coast in midlife compared to those from the least deprived coastal neighborhoods.
▪Individuals moving to the coast from other parts of England and Wales typically moved from less deprived neighborhoods in childhood to more deprived neighborhoods in midlife.
Coastal economic decline
▪The decline of traditional industries like tourism and fishing, along with limited employment opportunities, has concentrated health inequalities in coastal communities across England and Wales.
▪The physical barrier of the sea limits transport to education and employment for coastal residents in England and Wales, unlike those living inland.
Policy recommendations for communities
▪Researchers are calling for targeted public health and economic development interventions to improve health and healthcare in deprived coastal communities in England and Wales.
▪Professor Stephen Jivraj stated that coastal regions in England and Wales require targeted policies and resources to address growing health inequalities.
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