PURPOSE
This study is descriptive study that confirms the affect of the factors of perceived stress and social support of the kidney transplantation recipient affect on the quality of life.
METHODS
167 subjects who have received kidney transplantation in a university hospital in G city. Data obtained are analyzed by SPSS Win 13.0.
RESULTS
The perceived stress based on transplantation related characteristics and general traits of kidney transplantation has significant differences only in frequency of admission. The subjects who had been supported by acquittances have more significant social support index. The quality of life has significant differences in number of admissions, gender and occupation. Also, when the perceived stress of kidney transplantation recipients is lower and social support is higher, the quality of life is higher. The perceived stress has 28.1% increment of quality of life. Adding social support, both of them affect 34.8% increment of quality of life.
CONCLUSION
To decrease the factor to cause the stress of kidney transplantation recipients, it is necessary to have social support networks and to develop plans and programs to increase the quality of life of recipients.

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe how people with kidney transplantation experience using grounded theory method. Purposeful sampling was employed. Total of 20 kidney recipients participated in the study. To collect the data 11 individual in-depth interviewes and two focus group interviews were utilized. Each interview took about one hour, ranging from one to three hours and were audio-taped under the permission of the participants. All interviewes were transcribed to analyze. The results of the study show three stages of life process after kidney transplantation; 1) honeymoon stage, 2) anxiety and depression stage: 3) recovery and stable stage. In the honeymoon stage, all kidney recipients were exhilerated after the operation. They were happy receiving healthy kidney from others, often from beloved families. In the anxiety and depression stage, however, they experienced numerous psychosocial problems mainly due to the health, interpersonal, financial, and physical appearance problems. In the recovery and stable stage, they came out from the psychosocial problems by viewing their situation more objectively and by using many effective coping strategies to imporve their quality of life. Nine strategies which were identified as significant are 1) complying therapeutic regimens, 2) seeking information, 3) keeping their own job, 4) restricting social activities, 5) lowering aimes in their life, 6) managing the fact about their own kidney transplantation, 7) comforting themselves by comparing with others, 8) living religious or altruistic life, and 9) accepting redialysis and retransplantation. In the end, most of them experienced changed value system of life. They were satisfied with their current life, and thanked for living so many years after the transplantation. However, some of them, especially younger ones, regreted of losing hope and ambition they had planned when they were young. And many of them also experienced restricted social life, financial difficulties, and continuous fear of rejection of kidney. The results of the study might help nurses who work with kidney recipients in establishing and implementing effective nursing interventions by understanding the stages of life after kidney transplantations as well as their problems and strategies.