Constraints and Motivations Participation in Sedentary By THE ...libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/trsimage/hp/06018610.pdf · “Constraints and motivations for physical activity participation

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Constraints and Motivations

For Physical Activity Participation in Sedentary

Working People in Hong Kong

By

Lam Yuet Ming 06018610

AN HONOURS PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF ARTS

IN

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT (HONOURS) HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

April 2009

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HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

24th April, 2009

We hereby recommend that Honors Project by Miss Lam Yeut Ming entitled

“Constraints and motivations for physical activity participation in sedentary working

people in Hong Kong” be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Bachelor of Arts Honors Degree in Physical Education and Recreation Management.

_____________________ ________________________ Dr. Eva Tsai Prof. Chung Pak Kwong Chief Adviser Second Reader

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ACKNWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my chief adviser, Dr. Eva Tsai,

for constructive advice and valuable recommendations that enlightened me a lot

during the whole process. I would also like to show my special thanks to Prof. Chung

Pak Kwong for being my second reader. Appreciations were given to the sedentary

working people who had given me essential data for analysis and their kindly helps.

Finally, I was indebted to my family, especially my sister. They provided me

with unlimited support to finish the study. Special thank to my friends, Wong Yuen

See and Lee Lap Keung for their assistances in data collecting.

_____________________________ Lam Yuet Ming Department of Physical Education Hong Kong Baptist University Date: 24th April, 2009

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to understand the major constraints to leisure time

physical activity and the major motivations of the sedentary sedentary working

peoples in Hong Kong, to highlight the association between the stages of leisure time

physical activity participants and socio-demographic indicators. In this study, 128 of

sedentary working people aged 20-49 were invited to do the questionnaire. The result

showed that the result showed that the most important leisure time physical activities

motivations perceived by the sedentary working people in Hong Kong was

interest/enjoyment motivation for both of the females and males(males: mean =2.50,

female: mean =2.01). The result showed that the most important leisure time physical

activities constraints perceived by the sedentary working peoples in Hong Kong was

time constraints for both of the females and males (males: mean =2.39, female: mean

=2.44). In order to increase the sedentary working people to do more physical

activities, the government and recreation professionals can promote more leisure time

physical activities which with fun and enjoyment.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER Page

1. INTRODUCTION

Statement of the Problem............................................................... 1

Research Questions........................................................................ 4

Definition of Terms........................................................................ 6

Delimitations.................................................................................. 8

Limitations..................................................................................... 8

Significance of the Study............................................................... 9

2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Motivations for people to participate in physical activity.............. 10

Constraints for people to participate in physical activity............... 16

3. METHOD

The criteria of the subjects.............................................................. 22

Development of the questionnaire.................................................. 22

Procedures...................................................................................... 25

Method of analysis.......................................................................... 26

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CHAPTER Page

4. ANALYSIS OF DATA

Results............................................................................................ 27

Discussions..................................................................................... 44

5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions..................................................................................... 53

Finding............................................................................................ 54

Recommendations of Further Study............................................... 56

REFERENCES..................................................................................................... 75

APPENDIX.......................................................................................................... 80

A. Questionnaire (English Version)........................................................... 80

B. Questionnaire (Chinese Version)........................................................... 84

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLES Page

1 Frequency and percentage of the subjects’ Background

information........................................................................................... 30

2 Frequency and percentage of the subjects’ working hours per

day....................................................................................................... 31

3 Stages of LTPA participation................................................................ 32

4 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between

male and female................................................................................... 59

5 Independent Sample t-test for constraints between

male and female................................................................................... 60

6 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between

single and married sedentary working peoples.................................... 61

7 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between single

and married sedentary working peoples............................................... 62

8 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between below

average group and average group........................................................ 63

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TABLES Page

9 Independent Sample t-test for constraints between below average

group and average group...................................................................... 64

10 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working peoples’

different stages of LTPA participation and leisure time

physical activity motivations................................................................ 65

10a Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of interest /enjoyment

motivations among regular participants, non-regular participants

and non-participants............................................................................. 66

10b Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of competence motivations

among regular participants, non-regular participants and

non-participants................................................................................... 66

10c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of social motivations

among regular participants, non-regular participants and

non-participants................................................................................... 67

11 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working peoples’

different stages of LTPA participation and leisure time physical

activity constraints.............................................................................. 68

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TABLES Page

12 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working peoples’ age

groups and leisure time physical activity motivations....................... 69

12a Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of Interest/enjoyment

motivations among 20-29 group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group......... 70

12b Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of competence

motivations among 20-29group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group........... 70

12c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of social motivations

among 20-29group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group............................... 71

12d Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of appearance motivations

among 20-29 group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group ............................. 71

13 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working peoples’ age

groups and leisure time physical activity constraints............................ 72

13a Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of time constraints among

20-29 group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group.......................................... 73

13b Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of financial constraints

among 20-29 group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group ............................. 73

13c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of interpersonal constraints

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among 20-29 group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group.............................. 74

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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

It is not difficult to find the Hong Kong people who have to sit for a long time

during their working time. But when you ask them how many hours do they spent on

their regular physical activity per day. Mostly the answer is none. According to a

statistics on behavioral risk factors from the Center for Health Protection in 2008,

2100 Hong Kong people aged 18 to 64 had a long sitting time and more than 55.7% of

them set at least 6 hours per day on average (Department of Health, 2008).

Participation in regular physical activity is an important factor to achieve the

health benefits for people especially the people who are engaging to the sedentary

lifestyles. Taking part in sport activities has various benefits. For psychological

benefits, through participating in physical activities, people can escape from physical

and personal pressure, nostalgia and perceived autonomy (Cordes & Ibrahim, 1999).

For health benefits, through participating in physical activity, people could improve

health and reduce the risk of disease (Parry and Shaw, 1999). The study indicated that

physical activity increase is a possible prevention strategy for cancer, obesity, and

cardiovascular disease (Salmo, Owen, Crawford,Bauman & Sallis, 2003). For social

benefits, playing sport can strength social cohesion and make new friends. Although

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many studies proofed that there are many benefits for doing physical activity, however,

there are a big numbers of people who do not take action.

In addition of having enough physical activity to benefit from the health, some

studied found out a relation between healthy problems to the sedentary lifestyles and

physical inactivity. In the study, America adults who spent more time in sedentary

behaviors and were not sufficiently physically active had an increase likelihood of

being overweight or obese (Takemi, Genevieve, David, Jo & Neville, 2008).

Moreover, Dunstan (2007) found that people who spend more time on sedentary

lifestyles, such as watching television, will get a high level of glucose in their blood.

In Hong Kong, according to the survey (Leung, Fung, Tsai & Wong, 2007), the

Hong Kong peoples aged 25 to 34 were the least active age group, both the males and

female in this group did much less exercise than the 55 to 64 age group. Only 9% and

12% of age group 25-34 and 35-44 did at least three times a week in Hong Kong.

These findings indicate that younger people tend not to do enough physical activity,

which is at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (WTO, 2008), as a

result, they are difficult to achieve the benefits from physical activity.

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Further, many indicators show that there are a large number of people engaged in

very sedentary lifestyles. According to Health Survey 2003/04, it was found that 45.1

% of females aged 15 and above had not participated in any exercise or sport within

one month. According to the Hong Kong Baptist University’s department of physical

education, in 1200 interviewers, only 39% of people did medium-intensity physical

activity at least once a week. (South China Morning Post, 2008)

Although previous studies have explored and pointed out that differences in

motivations and barriers to physical activity in different age of groups in different

gender. None of them focused on office worker as sub-group nor most of them did not

focused local Asian Countries. There is a necessary to understand more about why the

sedentary workingwomen do or do not participate in physical activity. An improved

understanding can help physical activity professionals provide better their services to

attract this sub-group and help the activity program provision, health-promotion

campaigns, Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and others provide and

promote suitable leisure time physical activity according this sub-group’s needs.

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Statement of Problem

The purpose of the study was to understand the major constraints to leisure time

physical activity and the major motivations of the sedentary sedentary working people

in Hong Kong, to highlight the association between the levels of physical activities

and socio demographic indicators.

Research Questions

The main research questions of the study are:

1. What are frequencies of participating in leisure time physical activity of the

sedentary working people in Hong Kong?

2. What are the most important constraints to physical activity leisure time of

sedentary working people for both males and females in Hong Kong?

3. What are the most motivations for leisure time physical activity of sedentary

working people for both males and females in Hong Kong?

4. Is there an association between the marital status of the sedentary working

people in Hong Kong and their constraints of participating in leisure time

physical activity?

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5. Is there an association between the marital status of the sedentary working

people in Hong Kong and their motivations of participating in leisure time

physical activity?

6. Is there an association between the sedentary working people in Hong Kong

and their constraints of participating in physical activity among different of

stages of participating in leisure time physical activity?


and their motivations of participating in physical activity among different of

stages of participating in leisure time physical activity?


and their constraints of participating in leisure time physical activity among

different age groups?


and their motivations of participating in leisure time physical activity among

different age groups?


and their constraints of participating in physical activity among different

economic status?

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and their constraints of participating in physical activity among different

economic status?

Definition of Terms

The following terms were operationally defined specifically for this study:

Physical Activity

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal

muscles that require energy expenditures (WTO, 2009).

Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA)

LTPA are the activities that one participates in leisure time. The activities are

physical in nature which result in expending energy, they can be competitive,

non-competitive or for self-enjoyment (Tsai, 2005). They could be physical recreation

activities, team sports, individual sports or exercises like jogging and gym.

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Constraint

Raymore, Crawford,Godby & VonEye (1993) defined that constraint are limits

or inhibits that prevents a person from participating when the person has a desire to

undertake some leisure experience. Jackson (1993) stated that constraints are barriers

that inhibit a person for engaging in a particular behavior.

Motives

Motives refer to impulses, inner drives, or intentions that cause a person to move,

to do something, or to behave in a certain way (Brehm, 2004).

Sedentary work

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or

standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are

required only occasionally. (National Occupational Classification Career Handbook,

2006).

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Delimitations

The study was delimited by the following factors:

1. The subjects used in this study were sedentary working people who aged

between 20 and 49.

2. The study delimited to worker of who were convenience chosen in different

companies. Sedentary working people who did not belong to these companies

were not studied.

Limitations

The following limitations were established for this investigation:

1. It was assumed that all subjects would answer the questionnaire honestly.

2. The study subjects in this study were limited to those who worked at office.

3. The study was limited by the small sample size.

4. Convenience sampling method was used. Biased sample may occur.

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Significance of the Study

There were many physical activity facilities and programs provided by

government and non-government organizations, sports associations, and fitness

centers. The physical activity participation rate in women is remained low. In order to

tailor-make more sports and recreation sport participation rate of the sedentary female

workers in Hong Kong, it is prompt to understand the motives and constraints that

hindered their physical activity participation. This research highlights the motives and

constraints of in the sedentary female workers in Hong Kong reality so that the

government, sports associations and others would be pay attention on those motives

and constraints and provide the most suitable physical activity facilities and programs

to the Hong Kong sedentary working people in Hong Kong

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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Introduction

Knowing the participation motivations and constraints are important to

understand the participation motives and constraints, a review of literature

concentrates on the following sections: (1) Motivations for people to participate in

physical activity; (2) Constraints for people to participate in physical activity; (3)

Summery.

Motivations for People to Participate in Physical Activity

To understand why individuals choose to participate, exert effort, and persist in

an activity can be classified along a continuum of self-determination (Deci & Ryan,

1985). According to the Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985) there

are different types of motivation because of the different reasons or goals that give

rise to an action. There are two basic types of motivation. One is intrinsic motivation,

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which refers inherently enjoyable/interest, competence and social motives. Another

one is extrinsic motivation, which refers to a lead to a separable outcome such as the

appearance improvement and fitness improvement (Deci & Ryan, 1985, Frederick &

Ryan, 1993 & Ryan, Frederick, Lepes, Rubio, & Sheldon, 1997). Therefore, we have

to exam and understand their motivation for sedentary working people.

In the following, it will divide the motivations into five main aspects consisting

of interest/enjoyment, competence, social motives, appearance and fitness

improvement for literatures review to understand how to motivate the people to

participate in physical activity (Cindy, John & Irene, 2008; Anderson, 2003; Wilson,

Rodgers, & Fraser, 2002; Koivula, 1999).

Interest/ Enjoyment

The Physical activities showed its interesting and fun to participate. In the

research of different motivation and actual participation due to gender typing in

Stockholm, Sweden (Koivula,1999) found that both of the women and men rated fun

and enjoyment as the most and second most important motive for participating in

physical activity. Ebben & Brudzynski (2008) examined the Motivation and barriers

to exercise among 1044 college students (66%women and 34% men) and found that

most (76.8%) reported they were exercising. Enjoyment pleasure, feel good/ better

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and general health were the common motives.

Further, Henderson, Glancy & Little (1999) indicated that positive emotional

rewards that turned a person’s for participating in physical activity. For example,

when an activity is enjoyable or worth doing form a personal point of view (e.g. I

think it is fun), it can help to sustain people participation. A study (Yan & McCullagh,

2004) examined the differences in participatory motivation in physical activities

among Chinese (PRC), American born Chinese (ABC) and American children and

adolescents (USA). The ABC participants are most likely to enjoy physical activities

and have fun through physical activities. All of the above evidence shows that

physical activity with fun is an attractive factor. It is an important factor for the

sedentary working people to participating in physical activity in this study.

Competence

Competence affected people’s physical activity participation. Koivula (1999)

indicated the scores on competence scale, it is a factor which effects the participants

to participating physical activity, but at the rating of men and women were found to be

very similar. However, Frederick and Ryan (1993) did not find any gender difference

for competence motives. And in the study (Yan & McCullagh, 2004), the USA female

and male participants took part in physical activities due to the reasons of sport

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competitions and improving skills.

Sit, Kerr, & Wong (2008) have done study on (360) the mid-aged Chinese

Women who were aged 30–59 years old in Hong Kong. According to the level of

physical activity, the women were classified into four stages, which were

precontemplation (PC), contemplation (C), preparation (P), and action and

maintenance (AM). And they pointed out that the competence-challenge is the most

important motives for physical activity participation in the preparation group, which

were doing moderate physical activity fewer than five times a week. From the above,

we know that most of the people, especially males, participate in physical activity due

to the competence.

Social motives

For the social motives, in the study (Yan & McCullagh, 2004) out of 424

volunteers (202 females and 222 males) from 12 to 16 of years of age, PRC

participants, social affiliation and wellness were the main participation reasons for

both females and males. Same as Henderson and Ainsworth (2001) observed that

social support was an important element of African-American and American Indian

women choosing to be physically active.Moreover, Koivula (1999) found that for the

socializing, there were some differences between men and women; women had higher

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values on social factors than men for participation in physical activity. Therefore, the

social motive is proofed to be an important factor to motivate the sedentary working

people in this study.

Appearance and fitness improvement

In the research that differentiating men’s and women’s motives for sport

participation and exercise of 233 students (132 women, 101 men) from the

southeastern United States, Kilpatrick, Hebert & Bartholomew (2005) found that the

most common motives for exercise were the positive health, fitness and health/

management. Furthermore, they revealed men had higher levels of motivation then

women for challenge, competition, social recognition and strength and endurance.

And women had higher levels of motivation then men for weight management.

Similarly, Sweden (202 women and 208 men) were examined in the study of

differences in motivation and actual participation due to gender typing, Koivula (1999)

indicated that the women had the highest level scores in the motivations for

appearance – related in sport and exercise participation.

In addition, Segar, Spruijt-Metz and Nolen-Hoeksemal (2006) designed to

investigate the relationship between 59 midlife women’s physical activity motives and

their participation in physical activity in European-Americans. The result showed that

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twenty-six participants (44%) were categorized as having motives related to weight

loss and/or body shape for physical activity participations. Moreover, Anderson (2003)

indicated the number of motives as correlates of physical activity in women who were

the undergraduate and graduate student women at the University of Houston. It found

that improving physical appearance, controlling weight and improving cardiovascular

and general fitness were the top three motives for participating physical activity for

the subjects.

Further, Schuler, Roy, Vinci, Philipp and Cohen (2006) indentified barriers and

motivations to exercise associated with older African American and European

American women (98 European American and 115 African American women). It

found that improving/ maintaining their health was the most frequently cited

motivation to do physical activity (48.7%), especially the women with high income

level. And Sit, Kerr, & Wong (2008) found a similar result that indicated that the most

top important motives factors for physical activity participation were fitness- health,

followed by enjoyment-interest and appearance. Especially, the women were doing

moderate physical activity fewer than five times a week.

For the above studies, I discover that more and more people consider their

fitness- health and appearance, so that the appearance and fitness improvement

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motivates can show it’s important to affect the physical activity participation of the

sedentary working people.

People to participate in physical activity

The constraints for sedentary working people are divided into three main

categories consisting of personal constraints, practical constraints social and cultural

constraints (Cindy, John &Irene, 2008; Zhu, Timm, & Ainsworth, 2000).

Personal constraints

The personal barriers to female include lack of self-confidence, leak of body

image, lack of knowledge, the health problems and fatigue. Bopp, Lattimore, Wilcox,

Laken, McClorin, Swinton, et al. (2007) has done a research on examining the

perceived influences on PA participation, the link between spirituality and health

behaviors and the role of the church in promoting PA in African Americans. They

found out that fatigue was the constraints for both the men and women who did not

participate in physical activities. The major reasons for fatigue in men were due to

work schedules and physical exertions while at work and in women were due to work

and family obligations. The younger women and men who did not do exercise

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because of lacking knowledge about how to exercise and lacking knowledge about

exercising inspire of health concerns. Schuler, Roy, Vinci, Philipp and Cohen (2006)

indicated that the top barrier to exercise for the old women in their study were chronic

health problems and pain.

Moreover, without a good body image would be a blockage which affected the

people did not participate in physical activity. Silliman, Rodas-Fortier and Neyman

(2004) assessed the diet and exercise habits and perceived barriers to following a

healthy lifestyle of 471 college students (male: 199, female: 265). They found that the

male had more confident with their body image than the female. So a bad body image

would be the blockage for the female to participate in physical activities. Similarly,

Ball, Craqford and Owen (2000) examined the associations between feeling fat and

other weight-related barriers to physical activity on 2,298 Australian adults, 47% men

and 53% women. They indicated that for both male and female between ‘too fat’ as a

barrier and being too shy/embarrassed. And there was no significant between ‘too fat’

and ‘poor’ health’ as constraints to physical activity for man or women.

Further, form the survey of the Sport England’s (1999), it mentioned that the

girls and women the relationship between body image and physical activity is a

vicious circle. Also, it showed that the more self-conscious women feel about their

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bodies the less likely they are to take part in physical activity. Moreover, women cite

lack of self-confidence as one of the barriers for not participating in physical activity.

The last, the fitness level also would be a constraints. According to the report

from the County Council of City and County of Cardiff (2007) indicated that two out

of five adults in Cardiff 36.5% identified that their fitness level was the main reason

for non-participation in physical activity. And the Cardiff identified that family

(12.8%) and work (12.8%) commitments were the other main reasons for no

n-participation in physical activity.

Practical constraints

The practical barriers to female include lack of money, lack of time and facility

consistency. For the facility consistency, Bopp, Lattimore, Wilcox, Laken, McClorin,

Swinton, et al. (2007) has done a research on African American men and women (24

men, 20 women) to examining the perceived influences on PA participation. They

indicated that not having a convenient place to walk, not having facilities with

equipment and an unaffordable fee would be a deterrent to being physically active.

For the lack of money, many studies showed that it is one of the important

constraints. Andajani-Sutjahjo, Ball, Warren, Inglis and Crawford (2004) mentioned

that ‘not being able to find physical activity facilities that are expensive is the

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common barriers to physical activity. Similarly, a survey was done by the Sport

England’s (1999) it revealed that 19% of women said having more money would

encourage them to take part in sport and physical activity. This compared to 12% of

men. Lack of money would be one of the barriers to prevent them in taking part in

physical activity. They cannot afford the extra spending for the club membership, pay

for equipments or sporting clothing. Although some organizations such as the LCSD

provide cheap fee of sport classes and faculties, it is difficult for working people to

take part in because of the unsuitable time or the full quote.

Lack of time is the most important constraints what affects the sedentary

working people to choose whether participating physical activity. Andajani-Sutjahjo,

Ball, Warren, Inglis and Crawford (2004) mentioned that the main barriers reported by

young women related to motivation and time. As the result of their research found that

they were lack of time due to work commitments. Similarly, Silliman, Rodas-Fortier

and Neyman (2004) assessed the diet and exercise habits and perceived barriers to

following a healthy lifestyle of 471 college students (male: 199, female: 265). They

found that the most commonly barriers to physical activities are “lack of time”, and

then was “lack of motivation” and “lack of willpower”. But there are no differences in

barriers to exercise by gender. In addition, Sttutts(2002) has explored the determinants

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of physical activity in 137 adults Americans in his study. He found that time

constraints were the most barriers for inactive lifestyles, but regular exercisers are just

as likely to view time as a barrier as those who are sedentary.

Form the survey of the General Household (2000), it showed that 18% of women,

compared to 14% of men in Britain, are responsible for the care of an elderly or

infirm relative. And the Women’s Sports Foundation (2004) pointed out that the one

of the key reasons for not taking part in physical activity is the lack of available time

due to childcare and care of the elderly or housework.

Social constraints

The social barriers include family and social support and gender role. Bopp,

Lattimore, Wilcox, Laken, McClorin, Swinton, et al. (2007) pointed out that both the

younger men and the younger women would not go to exercise due to lack of social

support. For the same reasons, ethic of care has been framed as a constraint to

mothers’ leisure (Henderson & Allen, 1991; Brown, Miller & Hansen, 2001).Similarly,

in the graduate study in child development by Robert and Erikson, they indicated that

for girls, some gender-associated constraints to physical activity included lack of role

models, social pressures, and lack of parental encouragement. And girls had more lack

of parental encouragement constraints than boys. Also, girls would assess their

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general athletic ability more negatively than boys, regardless of actual performance.

Gender roles have been identified that affect women’s participation in physical

activity (Summerfield, 1990). Now in the modern societies, women have multiple

roles such as a daughter, a wife, a mother and so on. And they have to take difficult

responsibility in different kind of the roles. For example, they to take care their babies

when they become mothers. Furthermore, Harrington and Dawson (1995) tended to

suggest that women’s place within society, women’s roles and responsibilities, often

limit women’s freedom of choice. Furthermore, lack of technical skills, of private

transportation, and of financial resources is also experienced by women more

intensely than men. In addition to the survey of Hakobyan (2008), there was a sample

of 369 men and women, aged 18-65 years old that lived in Armenia. The result

showed that 30% participants lack of time due to work or study and 29% participants

lack of time due to family responsibilities such as taking care of children and doing

housework.

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Chapter 3

METHOD

The method of this study was divided into the following sections: (1) the criteria

of the subjects; (2) development of the questionnaire; (3) procedures; (4) method of

analysis.

The criteria of the subjects

The subjects were the aged between 20-49 females living in Hong Kong. All of

them are the official worker, and need to sit for a long time (about more than 5 hours

per day on average) during working. And their place of work will be quite evenly

distributed in different kind of trades including finance companies, trading and

logistics companies, import/export trades, recreation organizations, social service

organizations, school and so on.

Development of the questionnaire

The date was collected with a combination and modification of the

questionnaires use in the previous studies (Tsai & Coleman, 1999, Ryan, Frederick,

Lepes, Rubio, & Sheldon, 1997). Studying the questionnaire of Tsai and Coleman

(1999) is the first step and then some of the suitable questions were selected. The

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second is to find the Scale to measure the motives for participating in physical

activities through surfing in the internet. And the Motives for Physical Activities

Measure – Revised (MPAM-R) (Ryan, Frederick, Lepes, Rubio, & Sheldon, 1997)

was used in this study. And the final step is to translate the questionnaires into

Chinese version.

The questionnaire was divided into four parts (A) Physical Activity participation

pattern, (B) Motivations for PA participation, (C) Constraints to PA participation, (D)

General information. Before going to do the questionnaire, there will be a simple

guidelines and definition of physical activity in this study. In part A of the

questionnaire measures the sport pattern of the subjects. It emphasized on the frequent

they participated in physical activities, how much time they spent on physical

activities each time in average. And ask whether they participate in physical activities

in the past three months and let them to list three physical activities they usually

participated in and what types of physical activities they wished to participated in.

Finally, participates need to indicate where the usually had physical activity, who

usually accompany them form sport participation. (See Appendix A & B).

In part B and Part C, they were modified form the questionnaire used in the

studies of Tsai and Coleman (1999) and Ryan, Frederick, Lepes, Rubio, & Sheldon

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(1997). The aim of these two parts is to assess the strength of five motives for

participating in physical activities and to examine the sport constraints of the women

encountered which modified form the questionnaire Tsai and Coleman (1999).

In part B, the factors were classified into five motives and set randomly. The six

motives were (1) interest/enjoyment referred to motives items 2, 6, 8 and 15. (2)

Competence referred to motive items3, 7 and 14. (3) Appearance referred to motives

items 4, 11 and 16. (4) Fitness referred to motives items 1, 10 and 13. And (5) social

referred to motives items5, 9, 12 and 17. The original scale Motives for Physical

Activities Measure – Revised (MPAM-R) Ryan, Frederick, Lepes, Rubio, & Sheldon

(1997) is a 7-point scale form 1 (not at all true for me) to 7 (very trued for me). And in

this study it modified to be 0 (not at all true for me) to 4 (very trued for me) was used

and the subjects have to rate the true motives that affect their engage in physical

activities.

In part C, The factors were classified into six dimensions and set randomly. The

six dimensions were (1) time constraints referred to constraint items 2, 5 and 6. (2)

Financial constraints referred to constraint items 11 and 12. (3) Interpersonal

constraints referred to constraint items 3, 10, 13 and 19. (4) Environmental constraints

referred to constraint items 1, 14, 17 and 20. (5) Physiological constraints referred to

35

constraint items 4 and 21. (6) Personal attitude referred to constraint items 7, 8,

9,15and 16. In this part, 5-point Likert-type Scale from 0 (extremely unimportant) to 4

(extremely important) was used and the subjects had to rate the importance of the

constraints that affect their participation in physical activities.

The last part (D), it aims to get the general information of the subjects. It

includes the age, sex, marital status, education level and how many hours they work

per day and how hours will they sit during the working time.

Procedures

Questionnaire was easy to understand, but there were a few typing mistakes. In

this study, the questionnaires will be given to different people who I know. Though the

helping from her or him. She / he will help me to give theirs’ colleagues or bosses to

finish the questionnaires in different kind of companies. It used the Ramadan method to

choose the companies. When the questionnaires were given to the person, they will be

collected after five working days. The sample was obtained by using convenient

sampling.

36

Method of analysis

Collected data will be input into SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science)

for Window 15.0 version. The significant (alpha) level was set at .05.Descriptive

statistics such as standard deviation, frequency, percentage and mean will be used to

describe the social demographic information such as the personal data and the

physical activity pattern of the subjects. One-way ANOVA will be used to test the

constraints and motivations among different economical status, age group and will

find out the significant in constraints and motivations and different level on physical

activity; independent t-test will be used to test the constraints and motivations

between single and married.

37

Chapter 4

DATA ANALYSIS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the leisure time physical activity

constraints and motivations of the sedentary working people who sitting for more than

5 hours per day. It also measured weather the demographic affect their constraints and

motivations to engage to leisure time physical activity. The descriptive statistics,

independent t-test, one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The analyses of

the data were presented in the following results:

1. Description of the personal data, including gender, age, economic status,

education levels, number of working hour per day, number of sitting hours per day,

marital status.

2. Description of the most important motivations and constraints of participating in

leisure time physical activity among the male and female sedentary working

people.

3. A result from Independent Sample t-test on gender differences

4. A result from independent Sample t-test between the sedentary working people

with different marital status on leisure time physical activity motivations

38

5. A result from independent Sample t-test between the sedentary working people

with different marital status on leisure time physical activity constraints.

6. A result from independent Sample t-test between below average group and

average group of sedentary working people on different of leisure time physical

activity motivations

7. A result from independent Sample t-test between below average group and

average group of sedentary working people on different of leisure time physical

activity constraints

8. A result from One-way ANOVA, which analyzes difference in different stages of

leisure time physical activity participation and different leisure time physical

activity motivations.

9. A result from One-way ANOVA, which analyzes difference in different stages of

leisure time physical activity participation and different leisure time physical

activity constraints

10. A result from One-way ANOVA, which analyzes difference in different age

groups in different leisure time physical activity motivations.

11. A result from One-way ANOVA, which analyzes difference in different age

groups in different leisure time physical activity constraints.

39

Descriptive statistic of respondents

Background information

The modified questionnaire obtained personal information of sedentary working

people who sit more than 5 hours per day. A total 128 sedentary working people were

invited to respond to the questionnaires. There were 56% (n=72) were female and

44% (n=56) were male.77 %( n=98) aged between 20-29, 16 %( n=20), aged between

30-39, 8% (n=10) and aged between 40-49, 8% (n=10) (See Table 1).

For the economical status, 24% (n=31) were below average, 70% (n=89) were

average, the rest 6% (n=8) were above average.

For the education levels, 19.5% (n=25) were F5 or below education level, 7%

(n=9) were F6-F7 education levels, most of 73% (n=94) the sedentary working people

were university or above education levels.

For the Marital status, 86% (n=110) were single, while 14% (n=18) were married

(See Table 1).

40

Table 1

Frequency and percentage of the Subjects’ Background information

Background Social Demographics Frequency Percentage

( %) Sex Male 72 56 Female 56 44 Age 20-29 98 77 30-39 20 16 40-49 10 8 Economical status below average 31 24 average 89 70 above average 8 6 Marital status single 110 86 married 18 14 Education levels F5 or below 25 20 F6 to F7 9 7

University or above 94 73

For the working hours per day, most of the subjects 33.6% (n=43) had 8 hours of

work per day, next had 9 hours of work 25.8% (n=33) per day and next had 10 hours

of work 24.2% (n=31) per day and mean was 9.48 and standard deviation was1.641

(See Table 2).

41

Table 2

Frequency and percentage of the Subjects’ working hours per day

Working Hours per day Frequency Percentage (%)

8 hours per day 30 23.4



More than 10 hours 21 16.4

Total 128 100

For the sitting hours per day, most of the subjects 23.4% (n=30) had 7 sitting

hours per day, next were 8 sitting hours 19.5% (n=25) per day and next were 5 sitting

hours15.6% (n=20) per day and mean was 7.63 and standard deviation was 2.042.

Stages of leisure time physical activity participation

About 71% (n=91) of subjects had done some leisure time physical activities in

the past three months. The most three popular leisure time physical activities among

them were badminton, swimming and hiking.

The rest 29% (n=37) had not done leisure time physical activities in the past

three months. The most popular leisure time physical activities among them were

42

hiking, badminton and swimming.

About 63% (n=81) of subjects were non-regular participants in leisure time

physical activities in the past three months, (N=30, 23.4%) of them were not

non-participants in leisure time physical activities in the past three months and only

(N=17, 13.3%) were regular participants in leisure time physical activities in the past

three months (See Table 3).

Table 3

Stages of LTPA participation

Stages of LTPA participations Frequency Percentage (%)

non-regular participants 81 63

non-participants 30 23.4

regular participants 17 13.3

Total 128 100

Independent Sample t-test for motivations on gender difference

According to the result of independent Sample t-test, there were significant mean

difference between males and females in interest/enjoyment motivations (t=-3.70,

43

P=.00) (Males: mean =2.50, Female: mean =2.01), competence motivations (t=-3.26,

p=.00) (Males: mean =2.06, Female: mean =1.62) and social (t=2.61, p=.01), (Males:

mean =2.02, Female: mean =1.67).

However, there was no significant mean different between them in fitness

motivations (t=-.99, p=.32) (Males: mean =2.35, Female: mean =2.46) and

appearance motivations (t=-.54, p=.59) (Males: mean =.10, Female: mean =.72 (see

table 4).

Independent Sample t-test for constraints on gender difference

There were no significant mean difference between males and female in time

constraints (t=-.37, p=.71) (Males: mean =2.39, Female: mean =2.44), perceived

financial status constraints (t=.09, p=.93) (Males: mean =.99, Female: mean =.97),

interpersonal constraints(t=-1.12, p=.26) (Males: mean =1.26, Female: mean =1.42) ,

environment constraints(t=.10, p=.99) (Males: mean =1.99, Female: mean =1.99) ,

physiological constraints (t=1.45, p=.15) (Males: mean =2.13, Female: mean

=1.87)and personal attitude constraints (t=.82, p=.41) (Males: mean =1.54, Female:

mean =1.42) (see table 5).

______________________

Insert Table 5

_____________________

44

Independent Sample t-test for motivations between single and married sedentary

working people

The results of Independent t-test on the factors of leisure time physical activity

motivations between the subjects with different martial status were shown in table 7.

There were significant mean difference between single and married sedentary

working people in appearance motivations, (t=2.04, p=.04) (Single: mean =2.30,

Married: Mean=1.89). Single sedentary working people had larger appearance

motivations than the married official workers (see table 6).

______________________

Insert Table 6

______________________

On the other hand, there were no significant difference between them in

interest/enjoyment motivations (t=1.92, p=.06) (Single: mean =2.27, Married:

Mean=1.90), competence motivations (t=1.15, p=.25) (Single: mean =1.84, Married:

Mean=1.61), fitness motivations (t=1.74, p=.08) (Single: mean =2.44, Married:

Mean=2.15) and social motivations (t=1.32, p=.19) (Single: mean =1.86, Married:

Mean=1.60).

45

Independent Sample t-test for constraints between single and married sedentary

working people

There were significant mean difference between single and married sedentary

working people in interpersonal constraints (t=2.24, p=.03) (Single: mean =1.39,

Married: Mean=0.94) and environmental constraints (t=2.84, p=.01) (Single: mean

=2.08, Married: Mean=1.49).

From the above information, we could conclude that the single sedentary

working people significantly had larger interpersonal constraints and environmental

constraints than the married sedentary working people.

______________________

Insert Table 7

______________________

On the other hand, there was no significant difference between them in time

constraints, (t=0.13, p=.90) (Single: mean=2.42, Married: mean=2.39), perceived

financial status constraints (t=1.71, p=.09) (Single: mean=1.03, Married: mean=0.67),

physiological constraints (t=1.31, p=.19) (Single: mean=2.06, Married: mean=1.72)

46

and personal attitude constraints t=.87, p=.39) (Single: mean=1.51, Married:

mean=1.33)(see table 8).

Independent Sample t-test for motivations different economic status

There were no significant difference between below average group and average

group in interest/enjoyment motivations (t=1.26, p=.211) (Below average: mean

=2.37, Average: Mean=2.17), competence motivations (t=1.36, p=.175) (Below

average: mean =1.98, Average: Mean=1.76), fitness motivations (t=1.66, p=.099)

((Below average: mean =2.57, Average: Mean=2.34), social motivations (t=1.56,

p=.121) (Below average: mean =2.01, Average: Mean=1.76)and appearance

motivations (t=1.40, p=.165) (Below average: mean =2.41, Average:

Mean=2.18).( See table 8)

______________________

Insert Table 8

______________________

Independent Sample t-test for constraints different economic status

There were significant mean difference between below average group and

average group of sedentary working people in financial constraints (t=3.05, p=.003)

47

(Below average: mean =1.37, Average: Mean=.86) and personal attitude constraints

(t=2.59, p=.011) (Below average: mean =1.81, Average: Mean=1.39).

From the above, we could conclude that the below average group significantly

had larger financial constraints and personal attitude constraints than the average

group.

On the other hand, there were no significant difference between below average

group and average group of sedentary working people in time constraint (t=0.67,

p=.502) (Below average: mean =2.49, Average: Mean=2.38), interpersonal constraints

(t=0.56, p=.579) (Below average: mean =1.40, Average: Mean=1.30), environmental

constraints(t=1.74, p=.085) (Below average: mean =2.22, Average: Mean=1.92) and

physiological constraints(t=1.82, p=.071) (Below average: mean =2.31, Average:

Mean=1.92)(see Table 9).

______________________

Insert Table 9

______________________

48

One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ different stages of LTPA

participation and leisure time physical activity motivations

In this part, One-way ANOVA test was used to analyze 3 stages of LTPA

participations were compared with each other. The result showed that there were no

significant mean differences in fitness motivations (F=1.710, p=.185) and appearance

motivations (F=2.056, p=.132) between sedentary working people of different stages

of LTPA participations.

However, there were significant mean differences among 3 stages of LTPA

participations in interest/enjoyment motivations (F=9.302, p=.00), competence

motivations (F=7.788, p=.001) and social motivations (F=5.001, p=.00) (See table

10).

According to Student-Newman-Keulsa, b (SNK) Post Hoc test, for

interest/enjoyment motivations, there were no significant mean difference between

non-participants group and non-regular participants group. The mean for regular

participants group (mean=2.18) was significantly larger than non-participants group

(mean=1.87). Regular participants group had larger interest/enjoyment motivations

than non-participants group. (See Table 10a)

For the competence motivations, there were no significant mean difference

49

between non-participants group and non-regular participants group. The mean for

regular participants group (mean=2.41) was significantly larger than non-participants

group (mean=1.51). Regular participants group had larger competence motivations

than non-participants group. (See Table 10b)

For the social motivations, there were no significant mean difference between

non-participants group and non-regular participants group. The mean for regular

participants group (mean=2.25) was significantly larger than non-participants group

(mean=1.53). Regular participants group had larger social motivations than

non-participants group. (See Table 10c)

____________________________________

Insert Table 10, 10a, 10b, 10c

____________________________________

50

One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ different stages of LTPA

participation and leisure time physical activity constraints

One-way ANOVA test was used to analyze 3 stages of LTPA participations were

compared with each other. The result showed that there were no significant mean

differences in time constraints (F=.996, p=.372), perceived financial constraints

(F=.201, p=.818), Interpersonal constraints (F=.614, p=.543), environmental

constraints (F=.589, p=.557), physiological constraints (F=1.436, p=.242) and

personal attitude (F=1.848, p=.162) between sedentary working people of different

stages of LTPA participations (See table 11).

____________________________________

Insert Table 11

____________________________________

51

One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ age groups and leisure time

physical activity motivations

In this part, one-way ANOVA test was used to analyze 3 types of different age

groups of sedentary working people (20-29 group, 30-39group and 40-49 group) were


differences in fitness motivations (F=1.768, p=.175).

However, there were significant mean different in interest/enjoyment motivations

(F=4.882, p=.009), competence motivations (F=3.088, p=.049), social motivations

(F=4.302, p=.016) and appearance motivations (F=3.211, p=.044) (See table 12).

According to Student-Newman-Keulsa,b Post Hoc test, however, for

interest/enjoyment motivations, there were no significant mean difference among

20-29 group (mean=2.33), 30-39 group (mean=1.84)and 40-49 group

(mean=1.88)(see Table 12a).

For the competence motivations, there were no significant mean difference

among 20-29 group (mean=1.90), 30-39 group (mean=1.50) and 40-49 group

(mean=1.50) (see Table 12b).

52

On the other hand, for the social motivations, there were no significant mean

difference between 20-29group and 30-39 group. The mean for 20-29 group

(mean=1.90) was significantly larger than 40-49 group (mean=1.18). (See Table 12c)

For the appearance motivations, there were significant no mean difference

between 20-29group and 30-39 group and between 30-29 and 40-49. The mean for

20-29 group (mean=2.30) was significantly larger than 40-49 group (mean=1.67).

Form the above information, it could be conclude that 20-29group had larger social

and appearance motivations than 40-49group. (See Table 12d)

One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ age groups and leisure time

physical activity constraints

In this part, one-way ANOVA test was used to analyze 3 types of different age

groups of sedentary working people (20-29 group, 30-39group and 40-49 group) were


differences in environmental constraints (F=1.298, p=.277), physiological constraints

(F=1.132, p=.326) and personal attitude (F=.133, p=.876).

53

However, there were significant mean differences in time constraints (F=3.394,

p=.037), perceived financial constraints (F=3.445, p=.035) and interpersonal

constraints (F=3.559, p=.031) (See table 13).

According to Student-Newman-Keulsa,b Post Hoc test, however, for time

constraints, there were no significant mean difference between 20-29 group and 30-39

group,20-29 group and 40-49 group. The mean for 30-39group (mean=2.75) was

significantly larger than 40-49 group (mean=2.00). 30-39group had larger time

constraints than 40-49group (See table 13a).

However, for the financial constraints, there were no significant mean difference

among 20-29 group (mean=1.09), 30-39 group (mean=.65) and 40-49 group

(mean=.60) (see Table 13b).

And for the interpersonal constraints, there were no significant mean difference

between 20-29group and 30-39group. The mean for 30-39group was significantly

larger than 40-49 group (mean=.70). 30-39group had larger interpersonal constraints

than 40-49group (See table 13c).

______________________________________________________

Insert Table 12, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 13, 13a, 13b &13c

______________________________________________________

54

Discussion

In this research, 128 sedentary working people were invited to do modified

questionnaire. The result was used to give a better understanding of the motivations

and the constraints that affected their participation in leisure time physical activities

(LTPA), as well as the effect of demographic backgrounds on both the motivations

and constraints, dividing into three parts as of follow:

1. Results of the Leisure Time Physical Activity Motivations of sedentary working

people

2. Results of the Leisure Time Physical Activity Constraints of sedentary working

people

3. Results of the Leisure Time Physical Activity Motivations

Motivations on gender difference

In this study, the result showed that the most important leisure time physical

activities motivations perceived by the sedentary working people in Hong Kong was

interest/enjoyment motivation for both of the females and males. It was same as

Koivula (1999) who found that both of the women and men rated fun and enjoyment

as the most or second most, important motive for participating in physical activity.

55

For the competence and social motivations, the results showed that males have

greater motives than the female. It was similar to the result of Creedon (1994)

indicated that the male relatively more concerned about competition than female.

Similarly, according to Frederick, et al., (1993) reported that man rated competition

and challenge as the important motives.

But it was interesting that this study found that males had greater social motives

than female. It was different from the result of Frederick, et al., (1993) reported the

social factors as the top reasons for females.

For the fitness and appearance motivations, it was not surprising that females had

greater motivations than males. As the female in Hong Kong like keeping fit and lose

weight in order to attract the males even if they lies within the normal range. Under

the trend of slim is beauty, they have to keep fit. The results showed the same as

Finkenberg et al. (1994) reported that women valued appearance and weight

management more than did men.

Motivations on different marital status

For the sedentary working people with different marital status, this study

reflected that there were no mean significant differences in the motivations which

were interest/enjoyment, competence, fitness and social between the single and

56

marred sedentary working people. But it reflected that those single sedentary working

people perceived more appearance motivation than married sedentary working people.

It is because the single one who want a good appearance to attract another parts so

that the appearance would be the second important motivation for participating LTPA.

The first important motivation was fitness.

Motivations on different economical status

In this study, it was found that there were no significant differences between the

economical status and leisure time physical activity motivations. The result indicated

that the economical status would not affect the sedentary working people’ motivations

to participate in leisure time physical activity.

Motivations on different age groups

Considering different age groups, the most important motivation for the all age

groups are fitness motivations. The reason may that nowadays more and more people

in every age level also considered their health. It was similar with the finding form Sit,

Kerr, & Wong (2008) reported that the most top important motives factor for physical

activity participation was fitness-health.

Besides, the result showed that the age group 20-29 had significantly greater

social motivation than the age group 40-49. It could be the age groups 20-29 want to

57

get more social-interrelationship than the other age groups. They had just worked in

the society for a few years and would be willing to build up more interpersonal with

different kinds of people. Therefore, they participate in LTPA for more social-

interrelationship for people.

Last but not least, we found that age group 20-29 perceived more appearance

motivations than age group 40-49.This is possibly because most of the age group

20-29 was not married, so that they want to keep a good appearance to attract the

opposite sex. The physical activities can help the people maintain a good appearance

for motivating the sedentary working people to participate leisure time physical

activity.

Motivations on different stages of LTPA participants

The sedentary working people were classified into three stages of LTPA

participants: regular participants, non-regular participants and non-participants in

leisure time physical activities.

The most important motivation for the regular participants was

interest/enjoyment. The sedentary working people have regular participated in LTPA,

which provides more fun for them. For the non-regular participants and

non-participants were the fitness motivations.

58

Among these three groups, there were significant differences between the

interest/enjoyment, competence and fitness motivations and the frequency in

participating LTPA.

The result reflected that the regular participants had more interest/enjoyment

than the non-regular participants. The regular participants would participate the

leisure time physical activities more than three times in a week; it is similar with Sit,

Kerr and Wong (2008). Most of them would be participate the physical activities

which can provide fun, excitement and pleasure for them.

Also, for competence, the regular participants had more competence than

non-participants. It was similar with the founding of Sit, Kerr and Wong (2008) that

the competence-challenge is the most important motives for physical activity

participation, which were doing moderate physical activity fewer than five times a

week. In this study, the regular participants did about three times a week, so the

situation was same as the Sit, Kerr and Wong (2008) defined the moderate physical

activity participants. Lastly, the regular the regular participants had more social

motivations than the non-participants. At the same time, the regular participants had

more fitness motives than the non-participants. It was similar with the founding of the

Venus and Mars in the Gym, when women exercise regularly, health and fitness

59

motives for exercise could become more salient than motives related to physical

appearance (Robergs, Bereket & Knight, 1998).

Results of the Leisure Time Physical Activity Constraints

Constraints on gender difference

In this study, the result showed that the most important leisure time physical

activities constraints perceived by the sedentary working people in Hong Kong was

time constraints for both of the females and males. The following important

constraints for the female were physiological, environmental, personal attitude,

interpersonal and financial.

The following important constraints for male were environmental, physiological,

personal, interpersonal and financial. According the opinion of Tsai and coleman

(1999), it was true that leisure had to compete for a limited amount of resources with

other spheres of live such as work and family, the preferences in allocating resources

to leisure is affected by the perceived importance of leisure in one’s life. They have

many obligations such as work. This reflects a low priority being given to leisure time

physical activity.

Constraints on different martial status

With different martial status, this study reflected that there were no mean

60

significant differences in most of the perceived constraints including time, perceived

financial, physiological and personal attitude constraints between the single and

married sedentary working people. But it reflected the single sedentary working

people perceived more environmental constraints and interpersonal constraints than

married sedentary working people.

This was totally different of the previous studies. Brown et al. (2001) indicated

the constraint that mother of young children perceived was combination of structural.

The subjects concentrated on the single and nowadays the Hong Kong like to get

married and had a baby born at a later stage so that they would not affected by the

martial status.

Constraints on different economical status

It was found that there were significant mean differences between the

economical status and financial and personal attitude. The group ‘below average’

perceived larger financial constraints and personal attitude constraints than the

average group.

This result reflected the same findings of the Sport England’s (1999); lack of

money was the constraints to prevent people to take part in leisure time physical

activities. Also, in the personal attitude constraints for the below average group, it

61

would be that they had faced the lack of skills and lack of knowledge about the

physical activity.

Constraints on different age groups

Considering different age groups, age group 30-39 perceived greater time and

interpersonal constraints than age group 40-49. The reason may that in this group of

participations who have married and have baby so that they had to spend more time

on their family obligations. It was similar to the result of Women’s Sport Foundation

(2004), which it pointed out that the reasons for not taking part in physical activity is

the lack of available time due to child care or housework. It reflects the situation that

the Hong Kong people like late marriage and giving birth. So the situation reflects on

the age group 30-39.

Also age group 30-39 had less interpersonal constraints then the age group 40-49.

Age group 30-39 had better social-interrelationship than 40-49. Therefore, they could

receive more interpersonal support on participating in leisure time physical activity.

Constraints on different stages of LTPA participants

The sedentary working people were classified into three stages of LTPA

participants: regular participants, non-regular participants and non-participants in

leisure time physical activities. And the result reflected that there were no mean

62

significant differences between the constraints and the frequency in participating

LTPA. This revealed that constraints showed different groups had similar level of

constraints to participated in physical activities.

63

Chapter 5

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

This chapter consists of two main parts. They were (1) Conclusion and (2)

recommendation of future study.

Conclusion

Interviews were done with sedentary working people in Hong Kong on two weeks in

March and the results were concluded as follows.

Demographic Background information of sedentary working people

1. Total number of respondents was 128, 56.25% (n=72) were female and 43.75%

(n=56) were male. 76.6 %( n=98) of the respondents aged 20-29, 15.5% (n=20) aged

30-39 and 7.8% (N=10) aged 40-49.

2. The proportion of respondents with their economical status were 24.2 %( n=31)

were below average and 75.8% (n=97) were average.

3. For their education level, 19.5% (n=25) were F5 or below education level, 7% (n=9)

were F6-F7 education levels, most of 73.4% (n=94) the sedentary working people

were university or above education levels.

64

4. For the working hours per day, 33.6% (n=43) had 8 hours of work per day, next

had 9 hours of work 25.8% (n=33) per day and next were 10 hours of work 24.2%

(n=31) per day and mean was 9.48 and standard deviation was1.641.

5. 85.9% (n=110) of the respondents were single while 14.1% (n=18) of the

respondents were married.

Findings

1. For the females, the perception of interest/enjoyment was the most important

motivations, followed by fitness motivations and appearance motivations. For the

males, the perception of fitness was the most important motivations, followed by

appearance and interest/enjoyment.

2. The single sedentary working people significantly had larger interest/enjoyment

motivations, competence motivations and appearance than married sedentary

working people.

3. There were significant mean differences stages of LTPA participants and

interest/enjoyment motivations, competence motivations and social motivations

but no mean differences among the groups in fitness motivations and appearance

motivations. Regular participants group had larger motivations

interest/enjoyment motivations, competence motivations and social motivations

65

than the Non-participants group.

4. There was no significant mean difference between the economical status and all

the motivations among the groups.

5. There were significant mean differences between the age groups and

interest/enjoyment motivations, competence motivations, social motivations and

appearance motivations but no mean difference among the groups in fitness

groups.

6. Age group 20-29 had larger social motivations than age group 40-49.

7. Age group 20-29 had larger appearance motivations than age group 40-49.

8. The perception of time constraint was the most important constraints for both

males and females, for the males, followed by physiological constraints and

environmental constraints, for females, followed by environmental constraints and

physiological constraints.

9. The married sedentary working people significantly perceived larger financial

constraints, interpersonal constraints and environmental constraints than the single

sedentary working people.

10. There were no significant mean differences between the stages of LTPA

participants and all the constraints among the groups.

66

11. There were significant mean differences between economical statuses and the

financial constraints and personal attitude constraints but no mean differences

among the groups in time constraints, interpersonal constraints, environmental

constraints and physiological constraints. Below average group had larger

financial constraints and personal attitude constraints than average group.

12. There were significant mean differences between the age groups and time

constraints, financial constraints and interpersonal constraints but no mean

difference among groups in environmental constraints, physiological constraints

and personal attitude constraints.

13. Age group 30-39 had larger time constraints than the age group 40-49. Age group

20-29 had larger financial constraints than the age group 30-39 and 40-49.

14. Age group 30-39 had larger interpersonal constraints than 30-39.

Recommendation for further study

1. The small sample size cannot reflect the entire situation in Hong Kong. This may

affect the generalization of the results. Therefore, a larger sample size can be

generated a generalizable in further study.

2. The items and choices on leisure time physical activity motivations and

constraints of the study were limited. It may not able to reflect all factors affecting

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the sedentary working people of leisure time physical activity motivations and

constraints. It is recommended that more detailed questionnaire should be made in

further study.

3. The sedentary working people can be defined strictly in further study.

4. Qualitative studies can be conducted to acquire in-depth understanding of the

importance leisure time physical activity motivations and constraints perceived by

the sedentary working people.

5. Health status and number of children of the sedentary working people may also be

obtained to compare to get a better understanding of theirs’ leisure time physical

activity motivations and constraints in Hong Kong.

6. The time spent on each day of the sedentary working people may also be obtained

to determine the reasons of why they found time constraint the most important to

their participation in leisure time physical activity.

7. Research can also include leisure time physical activity motivations and

constraints of non-sedentary working people, so that the particular of sedentary

working people can be cited out and compared.

In conclusion, understandings of the major constraints to leisure time physical

activity and the major motivations of the sedentary working people in Hong Kong

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will help the professionals to enact the recreation policy which focus on the sedentary

working people. Although there are a number of weaknesses in this study, it is hoped

that this study will go some way and stimulate in developing a more perfect and

comprehensive conceptual framework in future research.

69

Table 4 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between male and female Leisure time physical activity Motivations

n Mean SD t p

Interest/enjoyment Male 72 2.01 .72 -3.69 .00* Female 56 2.49 .74 Competence Male 72 1.62 .73 -3.26 .00* Female 56 2.06 .81 Fitness Male 72 2.35 .73 -.99 .32 Female 56 2.46 .57 Social Male 72 1.67 .79 -2.61 .01* Female 56 2.02 .71 Appearance Male 72 2.20 .10 -.54 .59 Female 56 2.28 .72 *P

70

Table 5 Independent Sample t-test for constraints between male and female Leisure time physical activity Constraints

n Mean SD t p

Time Male 72 2.39 .85 -.37 .71 Female 56 2.44 .71 Financial Male 72 .99 .88 .09 .93 Female 56 .97 .81 Interpersonal Male 72 1.26 .83 -1.12 .26 Female 56 1.42 .74 Environmental Male 72 1.99 .86 .01 .99 Female 56 1.99 .82 Physiological Male 72 2.13 1.05 1.45 .15 Female 56 1.87 1.00 Personal attitude Male 72 1.54 .83 .82 .41 Female 56 1.42 .81 *P

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Table 6 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between single and married sedentary working people Leisure time physical activity Motivations

n Mean SD t p

Interest/enjoyment Single 110 2.27 .79 1.92 .06 Married 18 1.90 .49 Competence Single 110 1.84 .79 1.15 .25 Married 18 1.61 .78 Fitness Single 110 2.44 .66 1.74 .08 Married 18 2.15 .65 Social Single 110 1.86 .77 1.32 .19 Married 18 1.60 .75 Appearance Single 110 2.29 .78 2.04 .04* Married 18 1.89 .76 *P

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Table 7 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between single and married sedentary working people Leisure time physical activity Constraints

n Mean SD t p

Time Single 110 2.42 .75 0.13 .90 Married 18 2.39 1.00 Financial Single 110 1.03 .88 1.71 .09 Married 18 0.67 .54 Interpersonal Single 110 1.39 .81 2.24 .03* Married 18 0.94 .55 Environmental Single 110 2.08 .84 2.84 .01* Married 18 1.49 .62 Physiological Single 110 2.06 1.05 1.31 .19 Married 18 1.72 .84 Personal attitude Single 110 1.51 .83 .87 .39 Married 18 1.33 .72 *P

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Table 8 Independent Sample t-test for motivations between below average group and average group Leisure time physical activity Motivations

n Mean SD t p

Interest/enjoyment Below average 31 2.37 .78 1.26 .211 Average 97 2.17 .76 Competence Below average 31 1.98 .86 1.36 .175 Average 97 1.76 .77 Fitness Below average 31 2.57 .72 1.66 .099 Average 97 2.34 .64 Social Below average 31 2.01 .86 1.56 .121 Average 97 1.76 .74 Appearance Below average 31 2.41 .88 1.40 .165 Average 97 2.18 .76 *P

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Table 9 Independent Sample t-test for constraints between below average group and average group Leisure time physical activity Constraints

n Mean SD t p

Time Below average 31 2.49 .84 .67 .502 Average 97 2.38 .77 Financial Below average 31 1.37 .95 3.05 .003* Average 97 0.86 .77 Interpersonal Below average 31 1.40 .89 .56 .579 Average 97 1.30 .76 Environmental Below average 31 2.22 .90 1.74 .085 Average 97 1.92 .81 Physiological Below average 31 2.31 .95 1.82 .071 Average 97 1.92 1.04 Personal attitude Below average 31 1.81 .88 2.59 .011* Average 97 1.39 .77

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*P

76

Within groups 76.62 .61 Total 79.14 *P

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Table 10c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of social motivations among regular participants, non-regular participants and non-participants

Frequency in participating LTPA

n Subset for alpha=.05

1 2 Non-participants 30 1.53 Non-regular participants

81 1.84

Regular participant 17 2.25 Sig. .13 1.00

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Table 11 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ different stages of LTPA participation and leisure time physical activity constraints Leisure time physical activity Constraints

SS MS F P

Time Between groups 1.24 .62 1.00 .372 Within groups 77.54 .62 Total 78.77 Financial Between groups .29 .15 .20 .818 Within groups 90.41 .72 Total 90.70 Interpersonal Between groups .77 .39 .61 .543 Within groups 78.67 .63 Total 79.44 Environmental Between groups .83 .42 .59 .557 Within groups 88.29 .71 Total 89.12 Physiological Between groups 3.03 1.52 1.44 .242 Within groups 131.94 1.06 Total 134.97

79

Personal attitude Between groups 2.44 1.22 1.85 .162 Within groups 82.66 .66 Total 85.10 *P

80

Within groups 75.28 .60 Total 79.14 *P

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20-29 98 1.90 Sig. 1.50 Table 12c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of social motivations among 20-29group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group

Age groups n Subset for alpha=.05

1 2 40-49 10 1.18 30-39 20 1.75 20-29 98 1.90 Sig. 1.00 .54 Table 12d Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of appearance motivations among 20-29group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group


1 2 40-49 10 1.67

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30-39 20 2.17 2.17 20-29 98 2.30 Sig. .05 .57 Table 13 One-way ANVOA test on the sedentary working people’ age groups and leisure time physical activity constraints Leisure time physical activity Constraints

SS MS F P

Time Between groups 4.06 2.03 3.39 .037* Within groups 74.72 .60 Total 78.77 Financial Between groups 4.74 2.37 3.45 .035* Within groups 85.96 .69 Total 90.70 Interpersonal Between groups 4.28 2.14 3.56 .031* Within groups 75.16 .60 Total 79.44 Environmental Between groups 1.81 0.91 1.30 .277 Within groups 87.30 0.70 Total 89.12 Physiological

83

Between groups 2.40 1.20 1.13 .326 Within groups 132.57 1.06 Total 134.97 Personal attitude Between groups .18 .09 .13 .876 Within groups 84.92 .68 Total 85.10 *P

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Table 13c Post Hoc test (Student-Newman-Keulsa, b) of interpersonal constraints among 20-29group, 30-39 group and 40-49 group


1 2 40-49 10 .70 20-29 98 1.37 30-39 20 1.41 Sig. 1.0 .88

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