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

Measures of social network strength have been shown to be positively correlated with the health and well-being of a range of populations, including older adults. This study compares the network structure and the support available to a group of elderly applicants for public social service assistance with those of a group of elderly persons who had not sought help (also taking into account predisposing characteristics and functional impairment). The applicant group was found to have significantly smaller networks and less affective support, even when controlling for age and physical capacity.