By Jason Hreha

Glossary

Stages of Change Model

Reviewed by Jason Hreha

Published 2 min read

What is the stages of change model?

The stages of change model organizes readiness and behavior into proposed stages. It is part of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) associated with James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, which grew from smoking-cessation research.

The proposed stages

  • Precontemplation: Not yet considering change.
  • Contemplation: Considering change while weighing its advantages and disadvantages.
  • Preparation: Planning to act soon, commonly within the next month.
  • Action: Making the change. In smoking applications, this commonly covers the first six months after stopping.
  • Maintenance: Sustaining the change beyond that initial period and working to avoid relapse.
  • Termination: A proposed endpoint of no temptation and full confidence about avoiding relapse. It does not guarantee relapse is impossible.

Some applications use the first five stages. People can move back and forth; the categories are not a sequence everyone must follow. The broader model also includes processes of change, decisional balance, self-efficacy, and temptation.

Example of the stages of change

Someone weighing whether to stop smoking illustrates contemplation. Deciding to stop next month and making arrangements illustrates preparation. Actually stopping illustrates action. These descriptions distinguish considering, planning, and doing.

Does matching support to a stage help?

A Cochrane review of smoking-cessation interventions included 41 trials. Only four directly compared equivalent staged and unstaged interventions, and those did not show a clear advantage for staging.

Self-help and counseling could still improve quitting compared with minimal support. The uncertain part was the added value of matching support to a stage.

The review searched through August 2010 and concerned smoking cessation. It provides a specific test of the model's application, rather than a verdict on every form of support for every behavior.

For the ten processes of change, wider constructs, and a fuller review of the evidence, see the Transtheoretical Model guide.

Sources and further reading