An analysis of leisure constraints based on different recreational sport participation levels: Results from a study in Greece

What constraints are experienced by a sample of the Greek population when participating in recreational sport activities? An attempt was made to answer this question by using data collected by a household survey conducted in an urban area in Greece. The study aimed specifically to investigate (a) constraints on recreational sport participation, as experienced by a sample of the Greek population; (b) the relationship between constraint dimensions (derived by a principal component analysis) and sport participation or nonparticipation; and (c) the relationship between constraint dimensions and frequency of sport participation. The results indicated that (a) the most important perceived constraints were time and facilities- or services-related problems; (b) nonparticipants were significantly more constrained than participants, particularly in the intrapersonal dimension; and (c) perception of constraints decreased with the level of participation. The study provides support of the hierarchical model of leisure constraints (Crawford, Jackson & Godbey, 1991); intrapersonal constraints were shown to be significantly related to sport participation or nonparticipation. Moreover, the results suggest that there are similarities between the perceptions of constraints of the Greek sample and those of participants in previous North American research, despite the different cultures and recreational provision. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the hierarchical model of leisure constraints, and the importance and removal of intrapersonal constraints, service provision, and crosscultural comparisons.