Reasons for ceasing participation and barriers to participation: Further examination of constrained leisure as an internally homogeneous concept

Abstract

As part of the ongoing process of concept refinement in leisure constraints research, this article addresses the issue of the internal homogeneity of constrained leisure, first examined by Jackson and Dunn (1991). Comparisons are made of responses by the members of a single sample to virtually identical scales of items related to reasons for ceasing participation in a former activity and barriers to initiating participation in a new one. There was a general trend of similarity in the absolute and relative importance of the constraints associated with these two aspects of constrained leisure among a sample of Canadian junior high and high school students. However, the finding that several items were exceptions to the overall pattern provides further support for Jackson and Dunn's conclusion that constrained leisure is not an internally homogeneous concept.

Keywords:

• barriers
• ceasing leisure participation
• constraints
• leisure nonparticipation