Frontiers in Sports and Active Living | 2026
Authors: Ntovoli A.; Stavropoulou G.; Karagiorgos T.; Lianopoulos Y.; Anagnostou G.; Alexandris K.
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1697603
Journal: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Year: 2026
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Cited by: 2
Introduction: Physical inactivity is a global problem today, with multiple negative impacts on physical and psychological health. This study used the self-determination perspective and the hierarchical model of leisure constraints to study recreational sport participation within the framework of the leisure negotiation proposition. Methods: Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed in order to cluster individuals according to their motivation level (intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation) and to compare the cluster groups' scores on intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints. The sample of the study included three hundred and eighteen (N = 318) individuals of the general population in Greece. Results: Three distinct segments emerged from the latent class analysis, based on the motivation scores. The study revealed that the cluster with the highest intrinsic and extrinsic motivation scores had the lowest intrapersonal constraints scores, providing support for the important roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in successful negotiation and overcoming intrapersonal constraints. Conclusion: The role of extrinsic motivation should be noted, as it is equally important in the context of recreational sports, alongside intrinsic motivation, through the individual's internalization processes. 2026 Ntovoli, Stavropoulou, Karagiorgos, Lianopoulos, Anagnostou and Alexandris.
barriers; latent class analysis; leisure constraints; motivation; recreational sport participation; recreational sports