Social support networks and formal help seeking: differences between applicants to social services and a nonapplicant sample

Studies show that having a strong social network enhances the health and well-being of individuals, including the elderly. Recent interest has focused on the various support functions provided by social networks. The effect of social network support on the decision to seek formal assistance from social service agencies was assessed. The social support available to elderly persons applying for public social service assistance was compared with support available to elderly patients who did not seek these services. The applicant and nonapplicant groups differed with respect to level of need for social services, size of social network (particularly number of close relationships), and degree of emotional support. Elderly persons who applied for formal assistance had smaller networks than those who did not apply, and felt less loved and admired by the persons within their social networks. These results are consistent with findings from other studies showing that size of the close network affects the decision to seek help from social services. The lower affective support among applicants may be due to changes in the composition of the social network, such as the loss of a spouse, or the intense neediness of the applicant group as compared with the nonapplicant group. Thus, a combination of excessive need and inadequate support may exist among the applicant group. The implications of this imbalance in need and support and possible solutions for incorporating social networks into the provision of social care are discussed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)