Which statement best reflects the five stages of change?

• A. They Are: Recognition, Planning, Trying, Succeeding
• B. They Are: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance
• C. They Are: Activation, Engagement, Adoption, Integration, Sustainment
• D. They Are: Initiation, Growth, Maturity, Decline, Renewal

Answer: (B)

The statement tests knowledge of the Transtheoretical Model of Change, which maps how people progress toward adopting a new behavior. The five stages are Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance. In Precontemplation, a person isn’t considering change. In Contemplation, they’re weighing the pros and cons. Preparation means getting ready and planning, often taking small steps. Action involves actively making changes. Maintenance is about sustaining the new behavior over time. The best answer matches this exact sequence and terminology. Other options use terms that aren’t part of this framework and don’t follow the same progression, so they don’t accurately reflect the five stages of change.