The aim of this study was (a) to investigate students’ leisure constraints; (b) to identify students’ profiles;
and (c) to explore the effects of gender, residence, participation in physical activities, and health habits on
the intensity of constraints experienced. Using the scale developed by Alexandris and Caroll (1997), it
was observed that students’ perceived their leisure activities to be constrained by, mainly, accessibility
and facilities. Analyses of variance employing constraints as the dependent variables, with (a) residence
before age 18 and (b) health habits as independent variables, showed, for the dimension “lack of
company,” some statistically significant differences between students born and raised in small cities and
those born and raised in big cities. Furthermore, students from small cities reported significantly more
constraints arising from lack of company during leisure activities. In contrast, in four of the seven
constraint dimensions, students who paid much attention to their nutrition habits (i.e., who ate more
healthily) perceived fewer constraints on leisure activities than did students paying no attention to
nutrition. Providing leisure and sport education, inculcating positive attitudes about participation, might
reduce students’ experience of leisure constraints and should be developed as a strategic marketing effort
to involve both private and public sectors, since it is undeniable that an active lifestyle is healthier than a
sedentary lifestyle.