Impact of Swearing on Exercise Performance and Pain Tolerance: Cultural Perspective

ABSTRACT Introduction Swearing is often generated by oneself or received from others during physical exertion. Its effects on exercise performance and pain tolerance in relation to different cultures remain largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of self-generated and observer-generated swearing and yelling on exercise performance and pain tolerance in individuals living in the United States, where swearing is common, and Thailand, where it is rare. Methods Forty participants (22 ± 3 yr; 20 US-based, 20 Thailand-based) completed a maximum handgrip strength test, plank exercise to failure, and cold pressor test under five randomized conditions: 1) control, 2) self-yelling, 3) observer-yelling, 4) self-swearing, and 5) observer-swearing. Results Among US-based participants, both self- and observer-generated swearing improved plank performance, and observer-swearing increased maximal handgrip strength. Yelling had no effect on any of the tasks. Among Thailand-based participants, neither swearing nor yelling influenced plank performance. Self-yelling enhanced handgrip strength and observer-yelling increased cold pressor test latency. Conclusion These findings suggest that self-directed swearing and swearing from others enhance exercise performance in cultures where swearing is common but have limited effects where it is rare. Swearing could be utilized as a performance-enhancing intervention in exercise, with practical applications for culturally tailored training strategies.