Torrenting values, feelings, and thoughts*Cyber nursing and virtual self-care in a breast augmentation forum

摘要

Earlier research shows that breast augmentation is positively correlated with positive psychological states. The aim of thisnstudy was to explore the shared values, feelings, and thoughts within the culture of breast enlargement among womennvisiting Internet-based forums when considering and/or undergoing esthetic plastic surgery. The study used a netnographicnmethod for gathering and analyzing data. The findings show that the women used the Internet forum to provide emotionalnsupport to other women. Through electronic postings, they cared for and nursed each others’ anxiety and feelingsnthroughout the whole process. Apart from the process, another central issue was that the women’s relationships werenfrequently discussed; specifically their relationship to themselves, their environment, and with the surgeons. The findingsnsuggest that Internet forums represent a channel through which posters can share values, feelings, and thoughts from thenposition of an agent of action as well as from a position as the object of action. These dual positions and the medium endownthe women with a virtual nursing competence that would otherwise be unavailable. By introducing the concept of torrentingnas a means of sharing important self-care information, the authors provide a concept that can be further explored in relationnto post modern self-care strategies within contemporary nursing theories and practice.