PERSONAL INVESTMENT PERSPECTIVE ON LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION - ROLE OF INCENTIVES, PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY, AND CONSTRAINTS

This study applied Maehr and Braskamp's (1986) personal investment the ory with the leisure-time physical activity setting to gain a better u nderstanding of individuals' activity participation. Specifically, uni versity faculty/staff wellness program participants who varied in self -reported leisure-time physical activity levels were compared on perso nal investment theory components, including physical activity incentiv es and perceived options (i.e., program compatibility and physical act ivity constraints), Results support personal investment theory as a vi able model for examining leisure-time physical activity participation. Multivariate analysis of variance results demonstrated that high-acti ve participants placed more importance on health/fitness and achieveme nt-related incentives than did less-active participants. In addition, high active participants also felt that their leisure-time physical ac tivity participation allowed them to attain those incentives to a grea ter degree than did less active participants. Finally, high-active par ticipants perceived fewer constraints impeding their physical activity participation than those lower in physical activity level.