Perceived Constraints on Informal Recreational Sports Participation: The Case of School Teachers in Midland Greece

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate constraints that inhibited the participation of a sample of school teachers in informal recreational sports. Two hundred and six elementary school teachers (82 males and 124 females) participated in the study. A modified version of the Alexandris and Carroll (1997a) questionnaire was used to investigate constraints toward the specific behaviour. Future behavioural intentions were assessed using Ajzen and Fishbein's (1977) scale. The objectives of the study were (a) to identify the most important constraints toward informal recreational sports (as derived by a principal component analysis), (b) to test the relationships between constraint dimensions and frequency of participation, and (c) to investigate relationships between constraint dimensions and participants' intentions for future participation. Results showed that: (a) six constraint dimensions were revealed, namely lack of time, facilities/services, individual/psychological, lack of interest, lack of company, financial/accessibility; (b) infrequent participants reported higher scores in all constraint dimensions than moderate and frequent participants; and (c) constraints predicted significantly future participation intention. Information regarding the teachers' recreational sport profiles, and managerial implications to increase recreation participation are discussed.

Keywords:

• Constraint dimensions
• Frequency of participation
• Future participation
• Recreational sport activities