PERCEIVED LEISURE FREEDOM AND ACTIVITY INVOLVEMENT AMONG MEXICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS

This study examined the influence of perceptions of freedom in leisure on Mexican American adolescents' activity involvement. Subjects, 121 bays and 169 girls, ranged in age from 14 to 17 years and were drawn f rom a predominantly Mexican American population located in South Texas . Data were gathered through a self-report survey instrument consistin g of a perceived freedom in leisure scale and an activity index. Resul ts indicated a significant negative relationship between less perceive d freedom to choose and participation as well as gender differences in perception of freedom from constraints to participating. Among boys, inability to satisfy intrinsic needs emerged as the strongest explanat ion of nonparticipation, whereas for girls lack of competence was.