La mutualità nel caregiving: una revisione della letteratura

Mutuality, considered the feeling of intimacy and the positive relationship between a caregiver and a arereceiver, is gaining an increasing interest in the international research arena, on the light of the socio-demographic changes and the increase in chronic degenerative diseases. The purpose of this article is to make a critical analysis of the literature on mutuality in order to identify its predictors and outcomes. A literature review was performed with the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, ASSIA and Pciological Abstract. Twenty articles were selected. From the critical analysis of the literature mutuality emerges as key variable in the process of caregiving and in the mental and physical health of the caregiver and carereceiver. In caregivers, high levels of mutuality are associated with less stress, depression and burden and a better quality of life and perceived health; in patients, high mutuality improves the recovery process from an illness, reduces anxiety and depression and improves the quality of life. Future studies aimed at the study of this variable also in the Italian population could support the development of programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers and carereceiver.