A factor analytic study of leisure constraints in advanced adulthood

Abstract

Leisure lifestyles in a person's later years are often constrained by forces such as inadequate money, lack of transportation, and lack of knowledge. A body of knowledge related to leisure constraints in old age has been growing. This study was designed to advance the work in this area by determining whether commonalities exist which permit the reduction of specific limiting forces identified in previous research into broader constraint factors. A list of 30 constraints, based on previous research, was developed for this study. One hundred and twenty‐five individuals (ranging in age from 45 to 93) were asked to rate the importance of each of these constraints in limiting their leisure involvement. A factor analysis of responses yielded five constraint factors: external resource; time; approval; ability/social; and, physical well‐being. To gain further insight into these factors, their relationship to age, health, education, income, sex, and life satisfaction was examined through correlational analysis.

Key words:

• aging
• constraints
• advanced adulthood
• leisure