Green Spaces Promote Happier Communities 绿色社区欢乐多

A better mood might be as easy as a walk in the park. A survey finds people living near parks or gardens seem to have a leg up.

UK researchers analyzed data from a national survey of more than 10，000 people between 1991 through to 2008. They found that those who live in green areas have higher life satisfaction and less depression and stress than others who live in more concrete-dense areas with few trees and lawns. This trend held even if residents experienced changes in their income， marital status and health.

The researchers were able to compare the effect of living in green areas to the influence of other life events. For instance， living in green areas had nearly 30 percent of the same positive impact on life satisfaction as one gets by being married （as opposed to being unmarried）. And green space had around 20% of the same impact on life satisfaction as one gets by being employed （rather than unemployed）.

The researchers say that the benefits for any one person might be small but that the potential positives of a green space for a community could be substantial.

只需去公園溜达一圈，就能让心情好起来哟。一项调查发现，家住公园或花园附近的人似乎更快乐。

英国研究人员分析了一项全国性调查的数据，这项调查从1991年到2008年，调查对象超过1万人。他们发现，与生活在树少草稀、充斥着水泥地的地方的人相比，住在草木葱郁的地方的人幸福指数更高。即便居民经历了收入、婚姻、健康的变故，情况也依然如此。

研究人员也将“绿化区域效应”与生活中其他事件造成的影响相比较。绿色生活环境对幸福指数的贡献约等于结婚的30%（与单身状态相比），或找到工作的20%（与失业相比）。

研究人员表示，对个人来说，绿化环境带来的益处或许有限，但对一个社区来说，其价值不可小觑。

Word Study

depression /dɪ'preʃn/ n. 抑郁；沮丧

resident /'rezɪdənt/ n. 居民；住户

potential /pə'tenʃl/ adj. 潜在的；可能的

substantial /səb'stænʃl/ adj. 大量的；重大的