Recreational sport participation is an important pathway to improving the quality of life. While facilities for recreational sports are provided in many urban areas in China, how urban residents might be aware of or use these facilities for recreational sport participation is still a vague notion in the literature. This study explored the linkages between perceived leisure constraints and active participation in recreational sports among urban residents. We collected data samples from 2901 urban residents in China to identify their perceived constraints and the effects of the perceived constraints on active recreational sport participation by structural equation models. Five perceived constraints of active recreational sport participation were identified: intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental condition, facility-service management, and leisure opportunity constraints. More specifically, leisure opportunity, intrapersonal, facility-service management, and interpersonal constraints were the four most important constraints limiting active recreational sport participation of urban residents. Theoretical and practical implications to facilitate the active recreational sport participation of Chinese urban residents were discussed.
Keywords: China; active recreational sport participation; leisure opportunities; perceived constraints; urban residents.