What prevents people from asking for help when they need it, whether they need help in a time of crisis or more everyday assistance, such as small favours? Individual characteristics such as gender are known to be associated with help-seeking but less is known about the interplay of individual characteristics, family status and social capital characteristics. This paper presents research using the 2006 Australian General Social Survey (GSS) that identifies predictors of being unable to ask for small favours or help in a time of crisis. The analysis draws on social capital indicators included in the GSS for the first time in 2006. It might be expected that aspects of social capital such as social network structure, having friends to confide in, and levels of trust would mediate the impact of individual predictors of being able to ask for help. In fact, social capital factors have a greater mediating effect for some characteristics and little effect for others. The predictors also vary according to the type of help required. The paper presents results of the analysis in more detail and considers some implications of the findings for policy and future data collection.

Heather Crawford is a Master of Social Research student with ADSRI.