Keele Study: Swearing Boosts Exercise Endurance by 11%

A new study from psychologists at Keele University in the United Kingdom reveals that swearing can enhance physical performance by reducing mental inhibitions and allowing people to push their limits more effectively. Led by Dr. Richard Stephens, the research involved 192 participants and was published in the journal American Psychologist.

In the experiments, participants performed chair pushups, supporting their body weight on their arms, while repeating either a swear word of their choice or a neutral word every two seconds. After the task, they completed questionnaires assessing their mental state, including levels of self-confidence, positive emotion, distraction, humor, and psychological flow, a focused and immersive mindset often described as being "in the zone." Those who swore were able to maintain the exercise for significantly longer periods, with results showing an average increase of about 11 percent in endurance compared to the neutral word group. The findings held across both experiments and aligned with data from a prior study, pointing to swearing as a reliable performance booster.

Researchers attribute the effect to a state of disinhibition, where swearing helps...