Health behavior change is cyclic and involves progress through several stages. Arrange the following stages in the correct order:

Question

1. Preparation stage
2. Contemplation stage
3. Maintenance stage
4. Precontemplation stage
5. Termination stage
6. Action Stage

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3,2,5,1,6,4
Rationale 1: This is the third stage where the client person intends to take action in the immediate future (e.g., within the next month). Some people in this stage may have already started making small behavioral changes, such as buying a self-help book. At this stage, the person makes the final specific plans to accomplish the change.
Rationale 2: This is the second stage where the client acknowledges having a problem, seriously considers changing a specific behavior, actively gathers information, and verbalizes plans to change the behavior in the near future (e.g., next 6 months).
Rationale 3: This is the fifth stage where the client strives to prevent relapse by integrating newly adopted behaviors into his or her lifestyle. This stage lasts until the person no longer experiences temptation to return to previous unhealthy behaviors. It is estimated that maintenance lasts from six months to five years
Rationale 4: This is the first stage where the client is not contemplating change for at least 6 months
Rationale 5: This is the sixth and last stage (the ultimate goal) where the individual has complete confidence that the problem is no longer a temptation or threat. It is as if they never acquired the habit in the first place or the new behavior has become automatic
Rationale 6: This is the forth stage where the client actively implements behavioral and cognitive strategies of the action plan to interrupt previous health risk behaviors and adopt new ones. This stage requires the greatest commitment of time and energy.