The effect of acute and chronic exercise on state anger: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Research supports mood-related benefits of both acute and chronic exercise. While state anger is often one mood state measured in this research, the effect of acute or chronic exercise on state anger remains unclear. The objective of the study was to systematically review randomized controlled trials that measure the effect of exercise on state anger. Seven databases were searched up to May 1, 2025, yielding 80 eligible studies. We analyzed the effects from the studies using multilevel meta-analytic models with robust variance estimation. Our analysis revealed no significant benefit of acute exercise compared to a control condition on state anger (g = −0.078, CI 95% [−0.285, 0.13], PI 95% [−0.978, 0.823], p = .446). However, there was a small-to-moderate, significant benefit of chronic exercise training on state anger compared to control conditions (g = −0.232, CI 95% [−0.321, −0.143], PI 95% [−0.523, 0.06], p < 0.001). The significance of the acute exercise effect varied across sensitivity analyses. For the chronic effect, results remained robust. Moderator analyses revealed effects of exercise intensity and modality: moderate-intensity, aerobic, and mind–body exercise reduced anger, whereas resistance training and other intensity levels did not. Overall, chronic exercise training results in small-to-moderate improvements in state anger.