The aim of this study was to develop a substantive theory on self-management conducted by the adolescents with chronic kidney disease from their lived experience.

Data was collected through in-depth interviews from May to December in 2015 with thirteen adolescents with chronic kidney disease. The data collected were analyzed on the basis of Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory.

The core of the category found in this study was “overcoming the unstable sense of self- control and integrating disease experience into their life”. The causal conditions triggering the central phenomenon were “restriction in daily life” and “manifestation and aggravation of symptom”. The central phenomenon in the experience of self-management within the adolescents with chronic kidney disease was “unstable sense of self control”. The intervening condition for unstable self control were “micro system support” and “motivational resources”. This study found that the adolescents with chronic kidney disease followed a series of strategies when they faced the central phenomenon, including; passive coping, reappraisal of illness, active coping, compliance with treatment, controlling physical activity, and adjusting school life. With these strategic approaches, the adolescents with chronic kidney disease could maintain their active lifestyles and achieve their health behaviors. The process of self-management by these adolescents passed through four phases; limited experience caused by diseases, effort for normalization, reorganizing their daily lives, and integration with daily lives and self-management.

This Study explored the process and experience of self-management of adolescents with chronic kidney disease. These findings can be used for basis for developing substantive theory and nursing intervention strategy for adolescents with chronic kidney diseases.