What is another name for the stages of change model?

• A. Behavioral Change Model
• B. Public Health Model
• C. Transtheoretical Model
• D. Health Belief Model

Answer: (C)

The stages of change model is also known as the transtheoretical model. The word “transtheoretical” signals that behavior change unfolds across distinct stages over time, rather than being a single, one-step action. Developed by Prochaska and DiClemente, it maps how people move from not planning to change (precontemplation) through contemplating, preparing, taking action, and maintaining change, with interventions tailored to each stage. This naming is standard in health promotion because it emphasizes both the progression through stages and the processes that help people move forward, such as increasing self-efficacy and weighing benefits and barriers. Other models like the Health Belief Model or public health frameworks focus on different determinants of behavior, so they aren’t interchangeable with this stage-based approach.