Connectedness to nature and nature contact can provide many benefits to humans, like stress reduction, recovery from illness, and increased positive emotions. Likewise, recreational horseback riding is a widespread sports activity with the potential to enhance physical and psychological health. Yet, the influence of connectedness to nature on the wellbeing of older aged recreational horseback riders has not been investigated so far. The aim of the present study therefore was to explore the relationship between nature relatedness and physical, psychological and social wellbeing and happiness. The study sample was composed of Austrian recreational horseback riders aged 45 years and older, who were compared with dog owners and people without pets (n = 178). We found significantly higher nature relatedness, significantly higher overall wellbeing and a significantly better mood rating in recreational horseback riders compared to people without pets and similar scores compared to dog owners. Physical wellbeing is correlated with overall nature relatedness in horseback riders and dog owners, but no correlation was found in people without pets. A structural equation model shows a direct relationship between nature relatedness and mood in horseback riders and an indirect relationship through pet attachment in dog owners. The results suggest the activity with horses and dogs in nature environments is a source of wellbeing, enjoyment, self-confidence and social contacts.

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Die Ausbildung ?Radiologietechnologie?, eine Berufssparte der medizinisch-technischen Dienste, wird in ?sterreich seit 2006 an Fachhochschulen angeboten. Wie und warum entscheiden sich Studierende f?r ihr Berufsbild? Hintergrund der vorliegenden Studie sind Untersuchungen bei Universit?tsstudierenden, die davon ausgehen, dass die soziale Herkunft einen starken Einfluss sowohl auf die Studienwahl als auch auf die Bildungsmotivation hat. Bildungsaufsteiger, also Studierende von Eltern ohne Hochschulabschluss, sind an Fachhochschulen h?ufiger vertreten als an Universit?ten. Die hier vorgestellte Studie untersucht die Bildungsmotivation von radiologietechnologischen Fachhochschulstudierenden ?sterreichs in Abh?ngigkeit von der Bildung und dem Beruf der Eltern und vergleicht diese mit ?sterreichweiten Daten anderer Bildungszweige.