Is constrained leisure an internally homogeneous concept?

Abstract The internal homogeneity or differentiation of the concept of constrained leisure is investigated by assessing similarities and differences in patterns of the importance of 12 constraints items in relation to two distinct indicators of this general concept (ceasing participation in a former activity, and desire to participate in a new activity) rather than the single measure typical of previous research. By using data from two similar public recreation surveys, the findings show that the strength and relative importance of 12 items as reasons and barriers were generally the same, except that the cost of equipment was more frequently identified as a deterrent to beginning participation, whereas being physically unable to participate was more frequently identified as a reason for ceasing participation. These results were confirmed by internal replication when the data were broken down by selected activities and respondents’ age. The findings indicate that constrained leisure must be viewed as an internally differentiated concept because various indicators of the concept are not wholly interchangeable with one another.