Increasing attentioni has beent given to the iden1tificationi alnd description of variables associated with medical ancd social services needed, sou(ght, and u.sed by tihe elderly. LIittle is known, howevet; about those variables that iifluteince thle uIse offormal helping networks (i.e., use agency, couni.selo,; psychologist, doctol; or priest) lo meet the psychological needs of the Hispanic elderly. This stiudvy develops anld evaluates a causal model of formal helpinig network utilization among Hispanic older people. TIhe framework proposed by An1dersenI anid Newman (1973) is u(sed to categorize the variables employed in the study. The netehods of analysis are of multiple regression and palh analysis. The results intdicate that 3 of 19 variables in the mnodel directly affect use. Jointly, the thiree signtificant predictors (i.e., number of psychosocial problems, formal churchi attendance, anid severity of physical illniess) accouit for 18% of the variance in formal helpintg network use. Additionially they act as important medialitig variables in the model.
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