The impact of physical exercise on frustration tolerance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v83.119515Keywords:
Emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, physical exercise, psychological well-beingAbstract
Introduction: Frustration tolerance is a key psychological skill for emotional regulation and personal well-being. Regular physical exercise has been associated with psychological benefits that may contribute to its development.
Objective: To analyze the relationship between physical exercise and frustration tolerance among Spanish adults, considering variables such as age, gender, type of sport, and sports experience.
Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional, and correlational design was employed with a sample of 341 participants divided into two age groups (18–35 and 36–60 years). Data were collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Harrington Frustration Intolerance Scale. Comparisons were made between individuals who practiced physical exercise and those who did not, as well as between participants engaged in individual and team sports.
Results: Regular physical exercise was associated with greater frustration tolerance, with no significant differences found according to the type of sport. Likewise, individuals with greater sports experience showed greater frustration tolerance. Additionally, participants aged 36–60 years and men obtained significantly higher scores.
Discussion: The findings suggest that physical exercise may be associated with greater use of emotional self-regulation and coping strategies when facing adverse situations, which could contribute to explaining the higher levels of frustration tolerance observed in physically active individuals.
Conclusions: Regular physical exercise is associated with better management of frustration, supporting its potential as a preventive and educational tool for promoting emotional health and psychological well-being.
References
Amsel, A. (1992). Frustration theory: An analysis of dispositional learning and memory. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511665561
An, H., Chen, W., Wang, C., Yang, H., Huang, W., y Fan, S. (2020). The Relationships between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction and Happiness among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 17(13), 4817. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134817
Berkowitz, L. (1962). Aggression: A social psychological analysis. McGraw-Hill.
Carrasco Jérez, Y. (2020). Frustration discomfort scale: Initial validation and psychometric properties (Trabajo de fin de grado). Universitat Jaume I.
Dollard, J., Doob, L. W., Miller, N. E., Mowrer, O. H., & Sears, R. R. (1939). Frustration and aggression. Yale University Press.
García, C. R., Cepero, M., & Rojas, F. J. (2010). Efecto de la experiencia deportiva en las habilidades psicológicas de esgrimistas del ranking nacional español. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte, 10(2), 33-42. https://digitum.um.es/xmlui/bitstream/10201/34997/1/psicoligica.pdf
García-Peñas, V., López Martínez, O., Garcés de Los Fayos Ruiz, E., & Corbalán Berná, J. (2024). Bienestar psicológico y personalidad saludable en la práctica deportiva. Retos, 61, 49–58. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v61.106260
Garrido-Muñoz, M., Blanco-García, C., Diez-Vega, I., García-Merino, S., Acebes-Sánchez, J., & Rodríguez-Romo, G. (2024). Psychological resilience, athletic experience, and competitive level of judokas. A transversal study. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1440412. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1440412
Gomà-i-Freixanet, M., Martha, C., & Muro, A. (2012). Does the Sensation-Seeking trait differ among participants engaged in sports with different levels of physical risk? Anales de Psicología, 28(1), 223–232. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps
González-Ramírez, M. T., & Landero-Hernández, R. (2021). Diferencias en tolerancia a la frustración entre Baby Boomers, Generación X y Millennials. Ansiedad y Estrés, 27(2-3), 89-94. https://doi.org/10.5093/anyes2021a12
Gross, J. J. (2013). Emotion regulation: Taking stock and moving forward. Emotion, 13(3), 359–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032135
Gupta, S., & McCarthy, P. J. (2022). The sporting resilience model: A systematic review of resilience in sport performers. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1003053. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1003053
Harrington, N. (2005). The Frustration Discomfort Scale: Development and psychometric properties. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 12(5), 374–387. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.465
Ibáñez, M. B., Paul, F., & Mustaca, A. (2019). Intolerancia a la frustración y regulación emocional en adolescentes. Revista ConCiencia EPG, 3(2), 12-33. https://doi.org/10.32654/concienciaepg.3-2.2
Jaffer, S. & Rajpal, S. (2017). Effect of participation in sport son frustration tolerance capacity of secondary students. Indian Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Applied Sciences, 7(1), 38-41. https://sportscientistsviews.com/old/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Vol.7-No.1-Jan.-2017.38-41.pdf
Jerez-López, P., Chacón-Cuberos, R., Serrano-García, I., Belmonte-Arévalo, A. B., & Castro-Sánchez, M. (2025). Regulación emocional, autoconcepto y motivación en educación superior: estilo de vida activo como determinante. Retos, 65, 721–735. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v65.109359
Jiménez Murillo, N. (2022). Estudio de la ansiedad y frustración en deportistas de alto y bajo nivel deportivo (Trabajo de fin de grado). Universitat de les Illes Balears.
Lamadrid, A. (2018). Intolerancia a la frustración y autoestima en adultos (Tesis de licenciatura). Universidad Abierta Interamericana.
Lane, A. M., Beedie, C. J., Jones, M. V., Uphill, M., & Devonport, T. J. (2012). The BASES expert statement on emotion regulation in sport. Journal of Sports Sciences, 30(11), 1189–1195. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2012.693621
Lima, L., Reverdito, R. S., Souza, S. C., Fonseca, S. C. C., & Montagner, P. C. (2025). Deporte en el contexto escolar: percepción del apoyo y la experiencia deportiva positiva en jóvenes atletas. Retos, 67, 522–534. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.110763
Lopes Vieira, J. L., Rodrigues, G. T., de Souza, V. F. M., Catabriga, L. M., Kravchychyn, C., Carrosi Donato, F., Lucca Marção, L., & Ferreira, L. (2024). Impacto de las estrategias de afrontamiento y el ambiente grupal en el desempeño de atletas amateurs en competencias de voleibol. Retos, 61, 878–884. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v61.109044
López-Roel, S., García-Ordóñez, E., & Isorna Folgar, M. (2025). Necesidades psicológicas básicas en deportistas de alto nivel según género y edad. Retos, 71, 135–149. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v71.108264
Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: a review. Cureus, 15(1), e33475. https://doi:10.7759/cureus.33475
Medrano, L. A., Franco, P., & Mustaca, A. E. (2018). Adaptación argentina de la" Escala de Intolerancia a la Frustración". Behavioral Psychology/Psicología Conductual, 26(2).
Melguizo-Ibáñez, E., Caracuel Cáliz, R. F., Alonso Vargas, J. M., & Puertas Molero, P. (2024). Modelo explicativo para el análisis del efecto de variables emocionales en el bienestar psicológico de opositores de educación física en función del tiempo de actividad física semanal. Retos, 59, 112–118. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v59.105834
Morillo-Rivero, L. E., Torrubia, R., Ibáñez-Molina, A. J., & Torres, C. (2020). Relationship between frustration intolerance and personality dimensions. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 20(3), 343–351.
Nixdorf, I., Frank, R., & Beckmann, J. (2016). Comparison of athletes’ proneness to depressive symptoms in individual and team sports: Research on psychological mediators in junior elite athletes. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 893. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00893
Ortega Martínez, L. M., Araya Vargas, G. A., Smith Castro, V., & Hernández Campos, M. (2024). Influencia del sexo en la motivación para la actividad física y deporte: un metaanálisis. Retos, 55, 1081–1093. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v55.103811
Pluhar, E., McCracken, C., Griffith, K. L., Christino, M. A., Sugimoto, D., & Meehan, W. P. (2019). Team Sport Athletes May Be Less Likely To Suffer Anxiety or Depression than Individual Sport Athletes. Sports Health, 11(5), 490-496. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738119845488
Psyrdellis, M., & Justel, N. R. (2017). Constructos psicológicos vinculados a la respuesta de frustración en humanos. Anuario de Investigaciones, 24, 301-310. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=369155966018
Retamal-Muñoz, C., Urrutia-Gutierrez, S., Luis-de Cos, I., Luis-de Cos, G., & Arribas-Galarraga, S. (2024). Educación física emocional: incidencia de un programa sobre el bienestar subjetivo de alumnado universitario. Retos, 61, 685–694. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v61.107268
Salavera, C., Antoñanzas, J. L., Guallart, M., Urbón, E., Castellanos, R., & Usán, P. (2023). Go, go …. You'll be happier. Psychological variables among cyclists during COVID-19 lockdowns. Heliyon, 9(4), e15300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15300
Shrigiriwar, B. (2018). Association between physical fitness and frustration tolerance capacity of class XII students: A correlational research. International Journal Of Physical Education Sports And Health, 3(2), 1235-1236. https://www.journalofsports.com/archives/2018/vol3/issue2/5-1-24
Valiente-Barroso, C., Marcos-Sánchez, R., Arguedas-Morales, M., & Martínez-Vicente, M. (2021). Tolerancia a la frustración, estrés y autoestima como predictores de la planificación y toma de decisiones en adolescentes. Revista de Estudios e Investigación en Psicología y Educación, 8(1), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.17979/reipe.2021.8.1.7077
Vella, S. A., Swann, C., Allen, M. S., Schweickle, M. J., & Magee, C. A. (2016). Bidirectional Associations between Sport Involvement and Mental Health in Adolescence. Medicine & Science In Sports & Exercise, 49(4), 687-694. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000001142
Vella-Fondacaro, D., & Romano-Smith, S. (2023). The impact of a psychological skills training and mindfulness-based intervention on the mental toughness, competitive anxiety, and coping skills of futsal players—A longitudinal convergent mixed-methods design. Sports, 11(9), 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090162
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 María Sierra Rodrigo; María Dolores Morera Bello, Sara Márquez Rosa; Alba Niño González
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
