Which model describes stages of change including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance?

• A. Decisional balance
• B. Theory of planned behavior
• C. Transtheoretical model
• D. Health belief model

Answer: (C)

Understanding how behavior change unfolds through stages is what this question tests. The model that lays out five stages—precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance—is the Transtheoretical Model. It views change as a process people move through over time, not a single moment of decision. Each stage has distinct features and needs, guiding how to support someone toward lasting change.

In precontemplation, individuals may not yet recognize the need to change or may resist it. Contemplation involves awareness and ambivalence, where weighing the pros and cons happens. Preparation is when someone plans to take action soon and starts making small steps. Action is the active modification of behavior, while maintenance focuses on sustaining those changes and preventing relapse. The model also emphasizes processes of change—strategies and experiences that help people advance through the stages—and factors like self-efficacy that influence progression.

This fits best because it explicitly maps the journey of change across these stages. Other models focus on different aspects: decisional balance centers on weighing benefits and costs, the Theory of Planned Behavior emphasizes intentions shaped by attitudes, norms, and perceived control, and the Health Belief Model focuses on perceived threat and perceived benefits and barriers.