The correlates and consequences of benefit finding on quality of life were examined for 364 women (93% Caucasian, 6% African American, and 1% Hispanic) diagnosed with Stage I, II, and III breast cancer. Benefit finding and quality of life were measured 4 months postdiagnosis (T1), 3 months after T1 (T2), and 6 months after T2 (T3). Women with lower socioeconomic status, minorities, and those with more severe disease perceived more benefits at baseline. Benefit finding was associated with more negative affect at baseline and also interacted with stage of disease, such that negative relations to quality of life across time were limited to those with more severe disease. Findings suggest there are qualifiers as to whether “finding something good in the bad” is good or bad.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States (National Cancer Institute, 2002). Approximately 240,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 (American Cancer Society, 2002). Mortality rates are much lower than incidence rates, however. Most breast cancers are diagnosed at early stages, such that 96% of the women with local disease and 77% of those with regional disease survive at least 5 years (American Cancer Society, 2001).

Research in the area of psycho-oncology has largely focused on the negative consequences of being diagnosed with cancer. A diagnosis of cancer, for example, has been associated with an adverse impact on both physical and mental health for many individuals (Glanz & Lerman, 1992; Scott & Eisendrath, 1985). However, there are also...