Leisure Constraints and Negotiation among Canadian and South Korean Mountain Hikers: An Extension of Motivations with the Constraints-Effect-Mitigation Model

This study examined mountain hikers’ negotiation of leisure constraints and the role that motivations played in this process. This investigation included a comparison between Canadian and South Korean hikers. Data were collected from a sample of 399 mountain hikers visiting the Canadian Rocky Mountains and mountains in South Korea. Results revealed that hiking constraints had a significant negative effect on constraints negotiation for both Canadians and South Koreans. Motivation had a strong positive effect on negotiation for both Canadians and South Koreans, but a non-significant effect on hiking participation. One main difference between the groups was observed: the South Korean sample displayed a significant negative relationship between constraints and hiking participation, and the Canadian sample revealed a significant positive relationship between constraint negotiation and hiking participation – suggesting Canadians negotiate their hiking constraints more readily than South Koreans.