The Role of Facilitators in the Constraint Negotiation of Leisure-Time Physical Activity

There is substantial research on the constraint negotiation of leisure, including research on leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and some research exploring different aspects that might affect the constraint negotiation process, including self-efficacy and identity. However, despite longstanding conceptualization and theory, there is a lack of empirical research on the role of facilitators in the constraint negotiation process. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of facilitators in the constraint negotiation of LTPA in a national sample of 1,207 middle-aged and older adults. Path analysis results indicated that the relationship between facilitators and LTPA was fully mediated by constraint and negotiation. These findings provide one of the first empirical studies of facilitators in the constraint negotiation of LTPA and have practical implications for LTPA programming in community settings.