Perceived constraints on recreational sport participation: evidence from Chinese university students in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study presents the psychometric evidence of the leisure constraint scale developed by Alexandris and Carroll from Chinese university students in Hong Kong and the results of three competing measurement models of constraint scale (3-factor model, 7-factor model and second-order model). Chinese university students (N = 610) from eight public universities in Hong Kong completed a self-report questionnaire to assess their perceived constraints on recreational sport participation. Results of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the factorial validity and internal consistency reliabilities of the 23-item constraint scale was satisfactory. Comparison of the three competing models demonstrated that the 7-factor model displayed an acceptable model fit to the data, which was better than that of the other two models. The findings of this study have extended the existing body of knowledge in leisure constraint studies literature by providing evidence of psychometric properties of leisure constraint scale and the desired constraint measurement model among Chinese, Hong Kong university students.