Which of the following stages focuses on maintaining new behaviors over time?

The focus of the maintenance stage is on sustaining changes made during the action phase over an extended period. Individuals in this stage have successfully adopted new behaviors and are working to prevent relapse into previous habits. This involves ongoing commitment and the development of strategies to support long-term success.

In a practical sense, this can include regularly revisiting goals, finding new motivations, and possibly adjusting lifestyle factors to ensure the new habits remain integrated into daily life. The maintenance stage emphasizes that lasting behavioral change requires continuous effort and vigilance, as it’s common for individuals to face challenges and temptations that could lead them back to old behaviors.

Other stages, such as contemplation, action, and preparation, involve different processes related to behavior change. Contemplation is about recognizing the need for change, action is actively implementing changes, and preparation involves making plans to achieve those changes. However, none of these stages center on the long-term maintenance of those changes, which is the essence of the maintenance stage.