Utilizing non-traditional/non-health focused settings to impact women's health behaviors: Quilting groups and guilds

There has been a steady increase in the number of women diagnosed in the early stages of breast cancer (NCI, 2008). Social and peer influences as behavioral determinants can promote healthy practices or encourage risky behaviors among adults and adolescents (Festinger, 1954, 1957; Allport, 1962; Bandura, 1986). Social networks and naturally forming groups are possible venues of influencing health promoting behaviors. These networks and social systems are a source of disseminating health promoting information. There has been little research on utilizing non-traditional/non-health focused settings to impact women's health behaviors. Naturally forming social network venues, such as the traditional quilting guilds, are a local as well as a national source of social connection. These guilds are a source of integration across generations, social class, ethnicity, as well as history and culture. Results: Preliminary findings of qualitative interviews with women quilters support the perceived benefit of on mental and social health. These findings point to the impact of quilting on depressive affect and the improvement of mental health. Respondents also report the benefit of making objects for others as a means of helping friends, family or ill strangers. Discussion: The discussion will focus on the use of a traditionally women-focused activity to address health issues and benefits. Additionally, the benefit of an existing social network as a means of disseminating health information and implications to public health will be discussed.