Which of the following examples best illustrates the maintenance stage of behavior change according to the transtheoretical model of stress management?

• A. An individual who is unaware that their lifestyle is contributing to high stress levels.
• B. An individual who has been regularly practicing relaxation techniques for over six months to manage stress.
• C. A person who is thinking about starting meditation to cope with stress but has not yet begun.
• D. Someone who just started attending a stress management workshop last week.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change, which includes several stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.
2. Identify the characteristics of the maintenance stage: this stage involves sustaining a new behavior consistently for an extended period, typically more than six months, to prevent relapse.
3. Analyze each example in the problem to determine which stage it represents:
4. - An individual unaware of their stress-related lifestyle fits the precontemplation stage (no awareness or intention to change).
5. - A person thinking about starting meditation fits the contemplation stage (considering change but not yet acting).
6. - Someone who just started a workshop fits the action stage (actively making changes but for a short time).
7. - An individual practicing relaxation techniques regularly for over six months fits the maintenance stage (long-term sustained behavior).