Longitudinal research indicates that approximately 50% of women treated for gynecologic cancer have sexual dysfunctions as they recover and become cancer survivors. This outcome occurs in the context of satisfactory quality of life in other domains. This study, comparing gynecologic cancer survivors (n = 61) and gynecologically healthy women (n = 74), documents the reliability of the latter observations with measures of quality of life (general, depressive symptoms, social contacts, and stress), sexual functioning, and health. Of added importance are analyses focused on variables that may predict risk for sexual morbidity. Specifically, sexual self-schema is tested as an important, sexually relevant individual difference. In regression analyses that controlled for estimates of precancer sexual behavior (intercourse frequency), extent of disease-treatment, and menopausal symptoms, sexual self-schema accounted for significant variance in predicting current sexual behavior and responsiveness.The role of individual difference factors as predictors for psychological and behavioral morbidity has been an important focus of research in health psychology (see review by Adler & Matthews, 1994). Ganz and her collaborators Ganz et al., 1993) have noted the importance of such an effort for cancer research, as there has been a shift from description of adjustment processes to the identification of risk factors for psychosocial distress. With a disease such as cancer, there are medical contributors to risk, such as the extent of disease or treatment, as indicated in studies of breast cancer patients (e.g. Bloom et al., 1987; Maunsell, Brisson, & Deschenes, 1992), but psychological variables appear important too. Specifically, individual differences appear relevant, and furthermore, we have suggested that predictive power may be enhanced by choosing ones that are outcome specific (Andersen, 1994a). For example, if emotional distress is the outcome to be predicted, Carver's data (Carver et al., 1993) suggest that optimism is important. In their longitudinal study of women with breast cancer, they found that optimism was inversely related to later distress and, moreover, that this effect appeared to be mediated by the tendency of optimists to cope differently. In coping, optimists used acceptance and positive refraining rather than denial or behavioral disengagement.Our research has focused on one area of distress and behavioral dysfunction-sexual morbidity -for female survivors. Several controlled studies, retrospective as well as longitudinal, Andersen, 1985). For those with gynecologic cancer, there have been many studies describing the sexual problems and they suggest that approximately 50% of women have continuing, difficult sexual problems or dysfunctions (e.g., see Andersen & van der Does, 1994, or Weimar Schultz, van de Weil, Hahn, & Bouma, 1992, for reviews). None of these studies, however, have specified models for predicting which women would be at risk for the development of sexual problems. During times of l...

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