Merrimack College

Did you know your sports fandom might be impacting your health? As the FIFA World Cup kicks off, Dr. Aaron Mansfield, assistant professor of sport management, is exploring how fandom shapes people’s lives — for better or worse.

While his research links sports fandom to a range of poor health outcomes, it also suggests that fandom is one of the most powerful forces in human behavior. Few things inspire as much emotion and loyalty as the teams we love.