Driven to Frustration: Exploring the Dynamics of Frustration in Driving Situations in a Cross-sectional Study

Frustration is a complex emotional phenomenon subjected to various triggers and manifested through multifaceted behavioral and affective responses. This study investigates the relationship between distinct frustration-inducing situations encountered during driving and the corresponding affective responses, focusing on the mediating role of behavioral dimensions. A total of 2244 participants answered a questionnaire on driving behavior, the likelihood of experiencing frustration in various driving situations, and affective responses in frustrating situations. Latent factors and triggers of frustration were determined using Exploratory Factor Analysis, and their relationship to driving behavior was determined using Multiple Regressions. We identified four primary clusters of situations that could trigger frustration in car drivers: Unpredictable Experiences, Achievement Obstacles, Distress Elicitors, and External Distractions. The emotions accompanying driver frustration clustered into four distinct dimensions: Irritation, Anxiety, Boredom, and Embarrassment. While anxiety-related emotions were central in all frustrating responses (i.e., all four clusters), the other emotion dimensions were specifically related to some of the frustration clusters. Also, different types of frustrating situations were characterized by different emotional responses. Additionally, having more lapses was related to heightened frustration levels. Unraveling the complexities of frustration may allow further development of traffic safety by attempting to eliminate frequent frustration triggers from the driving situations.