Understanding the relationships between motivation, constraints, and constraint negotiation in volunteer participation in a marathon event

Abstract Sports volunteers, who support the operation of sporting events, are becoming increasingly important when such events are held. However, volunteer participation rates are inadequate and recruiting volunteers is a difficult task for event managers. Accordingly, the present study aimed to clarify the relationships between motivation, constraints, and constraint negotiation that emerge when considering whether to volunteer at a sporting event. A questionnaire survey of volunteers who participated in a full marathon event was conducted. After removing incomplete answers, data from 388 surveys were analyzed. A covariance structural analysis was conducted; negotiation strategy was found to have been facilitated by motivation, which leads to participation. By verifying the study’s model, it was clarified that motivation for volunteering stimulates negotiation and leads to actual volunteer participation. However, there was no effect of constraints on negotiation or participation. No mediation effect from negotiation on constraints was observed either.