PERCEPTION OF CONSTRAINTS AND STRENGTH OF MOTIVATION - THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO RECREATIONAL SPORT PARTICIPATION IN GREECE

This study, based on Crawford,Jackson and Godbey's (1991) hierarchial model of leisure constraints, aimed to: (a) investigate the influence of constraints dimensions on recreational sport participation; (b) emp irically test the ''balance'' proposition, by investigating the relati onships between perception of constraints dimensions and strength of m otivation for participation. The data were collected via a self-admini stered household questionnaire survey in an urban area in Greece. The results indicated that: (1) the constraints dimensions offered a signi ficant contribution towards the prediction of participants and nonpart icipants; (2) the individual/psychological lack of interest, lack of k nowledge and time dimensions were the best predictors for distinguishi ng between participants and non-participants; (3) the strength of moti vation was found to be negatively related to the perception of constra ints, supporting the ''balance'' proposition.