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Sport Participation Constraints of Malaysian


University Students

Article in International Journal of the Humanities · February 2007


DOI: 10.18848/1447-9508/CGP/v05i03/42043

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The International
Journal
the HUMANITIES

Volume 5, Number 3

Sport Participation Constraints of Malaysian


University Students

Aminuddin Yusof and Parilah M. Shah

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in ORGANISATIONS,
COMMUNITIES
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Sport Participation Constraints of Malaysian University Students
Aminuddin Yusof, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Parilah M. Shah, National University of Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons that keep Malaysian university students from participating
in sport activities during their leisure time. The three-dimensional leisure constraints model was used as the theoretical
framework for the study. The sample consisted of 303 students from University Putra Malaysia using survey instruments
based on Crawford and Godbey’s (1987) Leisure Constraints Model. The instrument is designed to measure three types of
constraints to sport participation: (1) structural, (2) interpersonal and (3) intrapersonal. Data were analyzed by descriptive
statistics, t-tests and ANOVA. The results suggest the subjects were constrained most by structural factors such as lack of
information about existing sport activities and facilities, inconvenient facility location and inconvenient facility operating
hours. Female students experienced higher levels of structural and intrapersonal constraints than their male counterparts.
Implications of the findings for sport administrators were given to overcome some constraints, and increase student’s par-
ticipation in sport activities.

Keywords: Leisure Constraint Model, Sport Participation Constraints, Physical Activity

Introduction Jackson and Godbey (1991), the model categorized


leisure constraints to three different levels: (1)
PERSON MAY choose to participate in

A sporting activities on the basis of that per-


son’s interests and the type of activity that
is available. Factors such as cultural, health,
fitness, psychological and social experiences have
structural, (2) interpersonal and (3) intrapersonal.
The constraints are sequentially ordered and the first
level of constraints faced by an individual is intraper-
sonal constraints. These constraints are due to indi-
vidual psychological states and attributes such as
been suggested as influencing a person’s sport parti- stress, depression, anxiety, religiosity, kin reference
cipation behaviours (Coakley, 1998; Dunn, 1998; & group, attitudes and perceived self-skill. The next
Salman, 1997). The reasons for not participating in stage, interpersonal constraints, occurs as a result of
sport have also been studied. Although lack of time interaction or the relationship between individuals’
was found to be a major factor cited for not particip- characteristics. An example of this type of constraint
ating in sport, Wankel (1988) argued that it does not is the inability in finding a suitable partner to play
mean that people who participate have more time badminton or tennis. Once interpersonal barriers
available than others. Many consider having no time have been overcome, an individual may face struc-
as a lame excuse for not participating as participation tural constraints, such as lack of facilities, equipment,
depends on the priority one gives to physical activity. time, money and information.
Another major factor inhibiting exercise participation Sport administrators will certainly be interested
is the pressure of work. This was found in the Canada in investigating whether the model conceptualized
Fitness Survey (1983) which reported work pressure by Crawford and Godbey (1987) can be used to ex-
as the main factor inhibiting subjects over 20 years plain non-participation in sport activities. The ability
of age from participating in sport activities. Others to identify, explain and predict non-participation in
such as Biddle (1995) and Boothby (1981) have sport is important especially in Malaysia considering
identified lack of interest, lack of facilities and that the country has spent millions of dollars building
physical problems as the reasons for non-participa- modern sport facilities and organizing programs to
tion in sport activities. encourage people to participate in sport and over-
One conceptual framework that may help under- come their sedentary behaviours. Example of such
stand why individuals do not participate in sport programs include the Malaysia Cergas (Active
activities is leisure constraints theory. Researchers Malaysia) programs targeted for the mass public and
have studied extensively the barriers to participation Rakan Muda (Young Friends) programs aimed at
in a variety of leisure activities, but no studies have encouraging youth to spend their leisure time in sport
explored the usefulness of this theory within the and recreational activities. At the university level,
sports context. Originally proposed by Crawford and various intramural and co-curricular activities have
Godbey (1987) and later elaborated by Crawford,

THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES,


VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3, 2007
http://www.Humanities-Journal.com, ISSN 1447-9508
© Common Ground, Aminuddin Yusof, Parilah M. Shah, All Rights Reserved, Permissions: cg-support@commongroundpublishing.com
190 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES, VOLUME 5

also been organized to encourage students to parti- Sample


cipate in sport activities during their leisure time. It
has been frequently reported that these programs Data were collected using convenient sampling pro-
have received poor response in terms of participation cedures from 303 university students from the Fac-
despite the numerous publicity and amount of money ulty of Education, University Putra Malaysia. Table
spent on these programs. By recognising structural, 1 describes the characteristics of the subjects. The
interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints to sport subjects were selected from the following academic
participation in Malaysia, administrators would be programs: (1) Physical Education (n=25, 8.3%), (2)
able to design better programs to persuade people to Agriculture Education (n=2, 0.7%), (3) Teaching of
participate in sport. Thus, the purpose of this study Malay Language (n=94, 31.05%), (4) Teaching of
was to examine the reasons given by students for not English (n=17, 5.6%), (5) Counseling (n=2, 0.7%),
participating in sport during their leisure time at (6) Music Education (n=4, 1.3%), (7) Science Edu-
University Putra Malaysia. The following research cation (n=96, 31.7%), (8) Teaching of Accounting
questions were formulated in this study: (n=52, 17.2%) and (9) Home Science (n=5, 1.7%).
What are the factors which prevent students from In terms of gender, the subjects consisted of 264 fe-
participating in sport activities at University Putra males (87.1%) and 37 males (12.9%). The age range
Malaysia? of the sample was 19-38 years old with a mean age
Are there differences in terms of sport participa- of 21.63 years. With respect to ethnicity, the majority
tion constraints perceived by students from different of the subjects (n=250, 82.5%) were Malays while
gender, academic programs, and ethnicity? there were 34 Chinese (11.2%), 7 Indian (2.4%) and
12 students from other racial groups (3.9%).

Table 1: Characteristics of Subjects


Gender
Male 39 12.9%
Female 264 87.1%
Ethnicity
Malays 250 82.5%
Chinese 34 11.2%
Indian 7 2.4%
Others 12 3.9%
Programs
Malay Language 94 31.0%
Teaching of English 17 5.6%
Counseling 2 0.7%
Music Education 4 1.3%
Science Education 96 31.7%
Accounting Education 52 17.2%
Home Science 5 1.7%
Physical Education 25 8.3%
Agriculture Education 8 2.7%
Mean Std Dev Min Max
Age 21.63 1.92 19 38

Instrument measure the subjects’ perception of sport participa-


tion constraints. Subjects were asked to indicate how
Subjects’ constraints for participation in sport activ- strongly they agreed or disagreed with each question
ities were measured through the use of survey instru- item based on a five-point Likert scale in which 1
ments developed by Raymore, Godbey, Crawford & represented strongly disagree and 5 strongly agree.
Von Eye (1993). A modified version of the original The subjects were also required to respond to ques-
instrument was translated into Malay language to tion items pertaining to demographic information
AMINUDDIN YUSOF, PARILAH M. SHAH 191

such as age, gender, time spend (per week) particip- responses on each question item. The purpose of this
ating in sport, ethnicity, academic standing and aca- analysis was to determine the order of the subjects’
demic programs. responses in terms of ranking from highest to lowest,
according to the mean scores on each question item.
Table 2 reports the results of this analysis.
Results
Descriptive analysis (frequencies, mean, mode and
standard deviation) was performed on the subjects’

Table 2: Reasons for Nonparticipation by Rank and Mean


Rank Item Mean
1 Q13 Lack of information about existing facilities and activities 3.63
2 Q1 Facility location inconvenient 3.62
3 Q14 Facility operating hours inconvenient 3.61
4 Q6 Facility too crowded 3.38
5 Q9 Lack of personal transportation – no car/motorcycle 3.28
6 Q7 Lack of friends with the time to participate in sport 3.18
7 Q17 Feel awkward participating in sport 2.82
8 Q11 Lack of public transportation 2.80
9 Q16 People that can play sport live too far away 2.75
10 Q15 Don’t have friends with enough skills to play sport 2.64
11 Q10 Lack of money to participate in sport 2.48
12 Q4 Lack of skill – don’t know how to do activity 2.32
13 Q8 Friends don’t have money to participate in sport 2.25
14 Q2 Too shy to do activity 2.21
15 Q18 Sport makes me feel uncomfortable 2.21
16 Q12 Family discourages participation in sport activity 1.98
17 Q3 Activity not conducted according to religious beliefs 1.93
18 Q5 Friends disapprove participation in sporting activity 1.90

An examination of the results revealed the three One-way ANOVA and T-tests were used to test dif-
question items with the highest means were lack of ferences in terms of sport participation constraints
information about existing facilities and activities perceived by students from different gender, academ-
(M=3.63), facility location inconvenient (M=3.62) ic programs, and ethnicity. For the three dimensions,
and facility operating hours inconvenient (M=3.61). the results (table 3) showed significant differences
Crawford and Godbey (1987) classified these items among the academic programs for structural con-
as structural constraints and the results suggest the straints (F = 11.09, p<0.05) and intrapersonal con-
subjects are constrained most by the lack of inform- straints (F = 4.18, p<0.05). The results showed no
ation with respect to the types of sport activities significant differences among academic programs
available on campus, the lack of information regard- with respect to interpersonal constraints. Post hoc
ing the facilities which offer these activities and the tests (Student Newman Keuls) as shown in table 4
inconvenient location and operating hours of these indicates that Physical Education students (M=16.95)
facilities. On the other hand, question items associ- differed significantly from Science (M=22.48), Ac-
ated with intrapersonal constraints had the lowest counting (M=23.67), English (M=23.93), Home
means such as friends disapprove participation in Science (M=24.0), Malay Language (M=24.31) and
sporting activity (M=1.90), activity not conducted Agriculture (M=26.5) students in terms of the scores
according to religious beliefs (M=1.93) and family on the structural constraints questions items. In other
discourages participation in sport activity (M=1.98). words, Physical Education students reported the least
The results suggest the subjects in this study were structural constraints while Science, Accounting,
constrained most by structural factors and least by English, Home Science and Malay Language students
intrapersonal factors. reported experiencing the most constraints in terms
192 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES, VOLUME 5

of structure. For intrapersonal constraints, Table 4 Science (M=18.2) students. The results suggest that
shows that Physical Education (M=11.80) differed Physical Education students reported the least in-
significantly from Malay Language (M=15.22), trapersonal barriers to sport participation while Home
Science (M=16.26), Accounting (M=16.3) and Home Science students experienced the most constraints.

Table 3: Analysis of Variance for Sport Participation Constraints among Different Academic Programs
Factor Source SS df MS F
Structural Between groups 1284.77 8 160.59 11.09*
Within groups 4125.78 285 14.47
Total 5410.55 293
Interpersonal Between groups 89.42 8 11.17 1.53
Within groups 2096.75 288 7.28
Total 2186.18 296
Intrapersonal Between groups 561.61 8 70.20 4.18*
Within groups 4779.41 285 16.76
Total 5341.02 293
* p < 0.05

Table 4: Student-Newman-Keuls Post-hoc Comparisons for Sport Participation Constraints among


Different Academic Programs
Factor Program Program Mean Difference
Structural Physical Education Music 0.05
Counselling 3.15
Science 5.53*
Accounting 6.72*
English 6.98*
Home Science 7.05*
Malay Language 7.36*
Agriculture 9.55*
Intrapersonal Physical Education Music 0.70
Counselling 0.20
Science 4.46*
Accounting 4.50*
English 2.55
Home Science 6.40*
Malay Language 3.42*
Agriculture 5.70
* p < 0.05

Comparisons between racial groups on structural, and intrapersonal constraints as depicted in Table 6.
interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints were done Significant differences were found in two factors –
by performing one-way ANOVA as shown in Table structural t (303) = -6.06, p < 0.05 and intrapersonal
5. The results suggest that there were no significant t (303) = -7.00, p < 0.05. The results suggest that
differences between the four racial groups in the female students experienced higher structural and
three sport participation constraints. T-tests were intrapersonal constraints to sport participation than
performed to compare whether male and female their male counterparts.
students differed in terms of structural, interpersonal
AMINUDDIN YUSOF, PARILAH M. SHAH 193

Table 5: Analysis of Variance for Sport Participation Constraints among Different Ethnic Groups
Factor Source SS df MS Fine
Structural Between groups 20.97 3 6.99 0.37
Within groups 5491.90 295 18.61
Total 5512.88 298
Interpersonal Between groups 24.01 3 8.00 1.09
Within groups 2184.84 298 7.33
Total 2208.86 301
Intrapersonal Between groups 81.84 3 27.28 1.52
Within groups 5288.44 295 17.92
Total 5370.29 298
*p < 0.05

Table 6: Independent Samples t-test for Sport Participation Constraints between Male and Female
Students
Factor Group M SD N Mean Difference T
Structural Male 18.92 4.34 39 4.48 -6.06*
Female 23.40 3.97 261
Interpersonal Male 10.23 2.48 39 0.68 -1.58
Female 10.91 2.74 264
Intrapersonal Male 11.94 3.14 39 3.96 -7.00*
Female 15.90 4.14 261
*p < 0.05

Discussion and Conclusion It was suggested by Crawford and Godbey’s


(1987) Leisure Constraints Model that people have
The objective of this study was to identify the factors to overcome intrapersonal constraints in order to gain
which inhibit students at Universiti Putra Malaysia a leisure preference and those who have successfully
(UPM) from participating in sports activities during negotiated intrapersonal constraints will move along
their leisure time. The findings suggest there are the hierarchy to confront structural constraints. Given
differences in terms of structural and intrapersonal the findings of this study, students need to overcome
constraints experienced by students from different intrapersonal constraints prior to confronting struc-
academic programs and between males and females tural constraints. The university may wish to consider
students. Specifically, in this study Physical Educa- education programs that portray the positive benefits
tion majors reported fewer and weaker structural and of sports participation. Such an education program
intrapersonal constraints compared with students if combined with counseling and awareness programs
from other programs. Physical Education students may assist in overcoming intrapersonal barriers to
are required to take skill activity classes as part of sports participation. To overcome structural con-
the course requirements and may continue particip- straints, the university as the agency sponsoring
ating in sport activities during their leisure time. sports activities may wish to consider providing
While Physical Education students are familiar with enough information to students (especially non-
the types, location and operating hours of sport facil- Physical Education majors and female students) re-
ities and have a greater knowledge about the types garding the types of activities available on campus,
of sport programs available on campus, what appears the location of facilities where sport activities are
to be restraining students from other programs are being organised, and the operating hours of these
the lack of information regarding the facilities which facilities. Messages and information could be sent
offer sports activities, inconvenient location and op- to students to promote and publicize sports activities
erating hours of these facilities, lack of transportation on campus by using : (1) the internet through the
and facilities too crowded. The present findings university’s and sports unit’s web pages, (2) display
suggest that the process by which an individual par- media such as bulletin boards, exhibits, posters and
ticipates in an activity or experiences constraints signs, (3) printed media such as campus newspapers,
which prevent this from occurring may be moderated student newsletters, brochures and fliers, and (4)
by previous exposure to an activity.
194 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES, VOLUME 5

presentation of information concerning a specific In Malaysian society, cultural upbringing has


program or activity to groups of students. taught females that a wide variety of activities are
It is also recommended that the university conduct not appropriate for them and some of these activities
an assessment of the needs and wants of students to may include sports. As with any other culture, it is
overcome barriers to sports participation. Unfortu- difficult to change deeply ingrained beliefs, but the
nately in Malaysia, many universities and sport university may be advised to encourage female par-
sponsoring agency developed sport programs without ticipation in sport by promoting the positive aspects
ever having gathered a needs assessment. Most pro- of sports participation. Unfortunately in Malaysia,
grams were offered out of convenience rather than many universities and schools have traditionally
based on the real needs, interests and wants of the spent more money supporting sport activities for
constituents. The university may wish to consider males and organize sport activities which do not re-
using activity records to identify genders of users, cognize females’ special needs and wants, thus
facility usage patterns, age and ethnicity of users. making female participation more unlikely. For ex-
Evaluation and feedback forms may also be used to ample, many sport facilities are managed by males
identify problems faced by user, identify student’s and the design and management of these facilities is
interests, generate new program ideas, justify need based on the desires of males. The university may
for new facilities and equipment, justify staffing re- also wish to take steps to provide equal opportunities
quirements and identify support services such as for males and females with regard to access to sport
transportation, parking, and security services. activities. These steps include (1) offering more
The results of this study suggest gender may be a programs and activities for female students, (2) in-
critical variable which influences sport participation creasing funding for female sport activities, (3) con-
and non-participation. In contrast to males, the ducting a needs assessment of female students, and
present study suggests females reported a stronger (4) hiring more female coaches, managers and in-
intensity of structural and intrapersonal constraints. structors.
This finding suggests that different strategies should The findings of this study have confirmed the
be implemented for female students in order to in- usefulness of the Leisure Constraints Model in
crease their participation in sport. One factor which identifying, explaining and predicting non-participa-
may inhibit females’ participation in sport may be tion in sport activities. While the results reported
due to differences in terms of access to resources here relate only to students at UPM, rather than in
and freedom to use them between males and females other universities in Malaysia, it raises some interest-
in Malaysia. For female students, they are less likely ing challenges for other universities and public sports
to have access to personal transportation such as agencies in Malaysia to increase the levels of sports
automobiles and motorcycles and this may be a major participation among their respective populations. In
obstacle for them to participate in sport activities terms of future research, it is recommended that an
which involve travel. Because of safety concerns, extended program of research be conducted to other
female students are also less likely to participate in segments of the population in Malaysia. This would
activities held at night or late evening where they enable Malaysian sports administrators to gain a
are more likely to be subjected to harassment and better understanding of the constraints to sports par-
ridicule if they enter a gymnasium or swimming pool ticipation of different segments and consequently
alone at night. allow for better sports programs to be developed.

References
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(edited by S.J. Biddle), pp. 3-25. Leeds : Human Kinetics Europe.
Boothby, J. (1981). Ceasing participation in sports activity. Journal of Leisure Research, 13, 1-14.
Canada Fitness Survey (1983). Canada Youth and Physical Activity. Ottawa, Ontario : Author.
Coakley, J.J.(1998). Sport in society : Issues and controversies. Boston, MA : Irwin McGraw-Hill.
Crawford, D., & Godbey, G. (1987). Reconceptualizing barriers to family recreation. Leisure Sciences, 9 (3), 119-127.
Crawford, D., Jackson, E., & & Godbey, G.(1991). A hierarchical model of leisure constraints. Leisure Sciences, 13, 309-
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Dunn, A.L. (1998). Six-month physical activity and fitness change in project active : A randomised trial. Medicine & Science
in Sport & Exercise, 30, 1076-1083.
Raymore, L., Godbey, G., Crawford, D., & Von Eye, A. (1993). A nature and process of leisure constraints : An empirical
test. Leisure Sciences, 15, 104.
Salman, N.W. (1997). Sports in Malaysia : Opportunities and barriers for women. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Leeds
Metropolitan University.
Wankel, L.M. (1988). Exercise adherence and leisure activity. In Exercise Adherence : Its Impact on Public Health (edited
by R.K. Dishman), pp. 369-396. Leeds : Human Kinetics Europe.
AMINUDDIN YUSOF, PARILAH M. SHAH 195

About the Authors


Dr. Aminuddin Yusof
Dr. Aminuddin Yusof is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia.
In 2003, he was seconded for service at the university’s Sports Academy. Dr. Aminuddin Yusof received his
tertiary education in the United States; his B.A. from Wilmington College, his M.A. from University of Illinois
at Urbana Champaign, and his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut. His areas of expertise are Sport
Management, Sport Tourism, and Sport and Tourism Communication. He has several research publications that
have been presented both locally and internationally.

Dr. Parilah M. Shah


Dr. Parilah M. Shah is a lecturer at the Faculty of Education, National University of Malaysia. She obtained
her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, USA. Her research interests are second language ac-
quisition, reading, teaching of English to speakers of other languages, and bilingual-bicultural education. She
has presented several papers at both the national and international levels and has several publications in areas
related to second language acquisition and learning.
THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUMANITIES

EDITORS
Tom Nairn, RMIT University, Melbourne.
Mary Kalantzis, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD


Patrick Baert, Cambridge University, UK.
David Christian, San Diego State University, California, USA.
Bill Cope, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Mick Dodson, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Hafedh Halila, Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis, Tunisia.
Ted Honderich, University College, London.
Paul James, RMIT University, Australia.
Moncef Jazzar, Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis, Tunisia.
Eleni Karantzola, University of the Aegean, Greece.
Bill Kent, Monash Centre, Prato, Italy.
Krishan Kumar, University of Virginia, USA.
Ayat Labadi, Institut Supérieur des Langues de Tunis, Tunisia.
Greg Levine, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Fethi Mansouri, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Juliet Mitchell, Cambridge University, UK.
Nikos Papastergiadis, University of Melbourne, Australia.
Robert Pascoe, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
Scott Schaffer, Millersville University, USA.
Jeffrey T. Schnapp, Stanford University, USA.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Columbia University, USA.
Giorgos Tsiakalos, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Siva Vaidhyanathan, New York University, USA.
Hortensia Beatriz Vera Lopez, University of Nottingham, UK.
Chris Ziguras, RMIT University, Australia.

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