Who Gets Frustrated? Identifying Individuals Prone to Frustration Using a Latent Profile Analysis

Overview

Journal Front Psychol

Date 2025 Mar 10

PMID 40062200

Authors

Hannaneh Yazdi

Mikael Ljung Aust

Casper Wickman

Aleksandra Bujacz

Leo Kowalski

Johan N Lundstrom

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Frustration is a complex negative emotion with multifaceted components that significantly influence cognitive and behavioral responses. While previous studies have explored frustration, identifying distinct groups of individuals prone to frustration has yielded inconsistent findings. This study employs a person-centered approach to identify clusters of drivers based on frustration triggers and emotional responses to frustrating events.

Methods: A total of 2,219 drivers participated in an online survey assessing frustration experiences in various frustrating scenarios. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify subgroups based on frustration triggers and emotional responses. Predictor variables included Driving Behavior Dimensions (violations, errors, and lapses), user group categories (car-sharing, ownership, leasing), and demographic factors (age and gender).

Results: LPA identified four distinct frustration profiles: Minimal, Low, Moderate, and Severe. These profiles were associated with different frustration triggers (i.e., goal blockage, limited control) and emotional responses (i.e., anger, stress, and irritation). The Severe profile, characterized by a high probability of individuals being highly prone to frustration, exhibited the highest frustration levels and was predominantly composed of older drivers (>45 years), particularly women, from car-sharing and leasing user groups. Emotional response patterns and the likelihood of frustration arousal are consistent across profiles, varying primarily in intensity.

Discussion: These findings offer insights into frustration susceptibility and underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance emotion regulation in driving contexts. Future research should explore personalized strategies to mitigate frustration based on individual and group characteristics.

References

Berkowitz L . Frustration-aggression hypothesis: examination and reformulation. Psychol Bull. 1989; 106(1):59-73. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.106.1.59. View

Kam C, Zhou M . Is the Dark Triad Better Studied Using a Variable- or a Person-Centered Approach? An Exploratory Investigation. PLoS One. 2016; 11(8):e0161628. PMC: 5006973. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161628. View

Donnerstein E, Wilson D . Effects of noise and perceived control on ongoing and subsequent aggressive behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1976; 34(5):774-81. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.34.5.774. View

Reason J, Manstead A, Stradling S, Baxter J, Campbell K . Errors and violations on the roads: a real distinction?. Ergonomics. 2010; 33(10-11):1315-32. DOI: 10.1080/00140139008925335. View

Lajunen T, Parker D, Summala H . The Manchester Driver Behaviour Questionnaire: a cross-cultural study. Accid Anal Prev. 2003; 36(2):231-8. DOI: 10.1016/s0001-4575(02)00152-5. View

Amsel A . Frustration theory--many years later. Psychol Bull. 1992; 112(3):396-9. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.112.3.396. View

Gross J, Carstensen L, Pasupathi M, Tsai J, Skorpen C, Hsu A . Emotion and aging: experience, expression, and control. Psychol Aging. 1998; 12(4):590-9. DOI: 10.1037//0882-7974.12.4.590. View

Zhang Z, Yao M, Ho K, Hong Y . Subphenotypes of Cardiac Arrest Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit: a latent profile analysis of a large critical care database. Sci Rep. 2019; 9(1):13644. PMC: 6754393. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50178-0. View

Yazdi H, Wickman C, Ljung Aust M, Selbing I, Kowalski L, Axelsson J . Understanding frustration triggers and emotional responses in driving situations. Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):28613. PMC: 11576952. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76792-1. View

10.

Berkowitz L . On the formation and regulation of anger and aggression. A cognitive-neoassociationistic analysis. Am Psychol. 1990; 45(4):494-503. DOI: 10.1037//0003-066x.45.4.494. View

11.

Martinussen L, Hakamies-Blomqvist L, Moller M, Ozkan T, Lajunen T . Age, gender, mileage and the DBQ: the validity of the Driver Behavior Questionnaire in different driver groups. Accid Anal Prev. 2013; 52:228-36. DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.12.036. View

12.

Bjureberg J, Ojala O, Berg A, Edvardsson E, Kolbeinsson O, Molander O . Targeting maladaptive anger with brief therapist-supported internet-delivered emotion regulation treatments: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022; 91(5):254-266. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000769. View

13.

Charles S, Reynolds C, Gatz M . Age-related differences and change in positive and negative affect over 23 years. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001; 80(1):136-51. View