Hurdman Sarah L, Jessop Donna C, Hurst Megan, Farsides Tom L
School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2025 Dec;20(1):2527883. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2025.2527883. Epub 2025 Jul 7.
Midlife has been identified as a period of diminished health and well-being among women. A growing body of evidence has documented positive links between interactions with the sea and well-being. To date, most qualitative researchers have focused on the experience and benefits of activities taking place in, or on, the water. Hence, this study aimed to explore the experiences of looking out to sea from the land ("sea gazing"), and how it may be related to well-being, for women in midlife.
Grounded theory methodology was used to develop a substantive theory of the relationship between sea gazing and well-being. Data were collected from 15 coastal-dwelling women, aged between 45-64 years old.
The proposed theory explains a self-reinforcing, cyclical process in which sea gazing is used as a habitual self-care practice within overall well-being management. The theory was constructed around a core category of .
Sea gazing from the land may offer a simple, affordable and accessible way for midlife women to gain well-being benefits from the sea . These results may be of interest to policymakers and healthcare professionals concerned with facilitating positive well-being outcomes for women in midlife.
中年被认为是女性健康和幸福感下降的时期。越来越多的证据表明与大海的互动和幸福感之间存在积极联系。迄今为止，大多数定性研究人员都专注于在水上或水边进行的活动的体验和益处。因此，本研究旨在探讨中年女性从陆地眺望大海（“观海”）的体验，以及它与幸福感的关系。
采用扎根理论方法来构建观海与幸福感之间关系的实质性理论。数据收集自15名年龄在45至64岁之间的沿海居住女性。
所提出的理论解释了一个自我强化的循环过程，在这个过程中，观海被用作整体幸福感管理中的一种习惯性自我保健行为。该理论围绕一个核心类别构建。
从陆地观海可能为中年女性提供一种简单、经济且易于实现的方式，使其从大海中获得幸福感。这些结果可能会引起关注促进中年女性积极幸福感的政策制定者和医疗保健专业人员的兴趣。
