The stages of change model
The stages of change model (also known as the transtheoretical model of behaviour) was originally developed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1982). Unlike other models of beliefs and behaviours, this model does not try to explain what contributes to a decision to change but describes how the change might take place. Prochaska and DiClemente’s model of behaviour change is based on the following stages:
Model of behaviour change
- Precontemplation (not intending to make any changes)
- Contemplation (considering a change)
- Preparation (making small changes)
- Action (actively engaging in a new behaviour)
- Maintenance (sustaining the change over time).
The model is cyclic and bi-directional. In other words, an individual may move to the preparation stage and then back to the contemplation stage several times before progressing to the action stage. Furthermore, even when an individual has reached the maintenance stage, he or she may slip back to the contemplation stage over time. Many smokers, for example, contemplate stopping smoking, stop smoking for a while, start smoking again with no intention to stop and then start contemplating cessation again.
An individual may not have an awareness of contemplating, auctioning and maintaining change but will at different stages focus on either the costs of a behaviour ( for example` taking up exercise will mean that I have less time with my children`) or the benefits of the behaviour (for example `exercise will make me feel fitter`).
The stages of change model have been applied to several health- related behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol use, exercise and screening behaviour.
The stages of change model on an individual eating behaviour and exercise
This model does not try to explain what contributes to a decision to change but describes how the change might take place. It has been applied to a variety of individual behaviours as well as to organisational change. The model is circular and not linear. In other words, people do not systematically progress from one stage to the next, ultimately ‘’graduating’’ from the behaviour change process. Instead they may enter the change process at any stage, relapse to an earlier stage, and begin the process once more.
They may cycle through this process repeatedly and the process can truncate at any point. The above stage is on the eating habit of an individual and the stages of change it undergo.
In the Precontemplation stage: The individual has no intention of taking action in the next six months. He is happy been overweight and intend to carry on eating what he feels like eating. to him, dieting is boring and he has no time for exercise.
Contemplation stage: In this stage the individual have been feeling out of breath and unattractive ,maybe he should be thinking about losing weight. He intends to take action in the next six months.
Preparation stages: in this stage the individual intends to take action within the next thirty days and has taken some behavioural steps in this direction. He has chosen to stop eating between meals and will start walking to work.
Action stage: Which is actively engaging in a new behaviour. In this stage the individual has changed behaviour for less than six months. He has been eating healthily and walking for half an hour each day. He feels better.
Maintenance stage: (Sustaining the change over time) in this stage the individual has changed behaviour for more than six months. He has been eating more healthily and doing more exercise for four months now. He feels more energetic and attractive.
Social cognitive theory on the above health problem
The social cognitive theory describes a dynamic, ongoing process in which personal factors, environmental factors, and human behaviour exert influence upon each other.
According to the social cognitive theory, three main factors affect the likelihood that a person will change a health behaviour.
- Self efficacy
- Goals
- Outcome expectancies
If an individual have a sense of personal agency or self efficacy, they can change behaviours even when faced with obstacles. If they do not feel that they can exercise control over their health behaviour, they are not motivated to act, or to persist through challenges. As a person adopts new behaviours, this causes changes in both the environment and in the person.
The social cognitive theory will use these concepts to explain the individuals eating behaviour and exercise
- Reciprocal determinism: This describes the interactions between behaviour, personal factors, and environment, where each influences the others. For instance the personal interacts with behaviour and environment of been satisfied with being overweight and the intention of carrying on with eating what is available. Also, dieting is considered boring and little or no time for exercise.
- Behavioural capacity: This implies a person’s knowledge of what to do and how to do it. The individuals feels out of breath and unattractive. He considers engaging in an activity that will make him lose weight. He intends to promote mastery learning through skills training.
- Expectations: This is the results an individual anticipates from taking actions the individual intends to stop eating between meals and want to start to walk to work. This is the preparation stage above.
- Self efficacy: This implies confidence in one’s ability to take action and overcome barriers, here the individual approach behaviour change in small steps to ensure success and be specific about the desired change. The individual have put into action his expect ion. He has been eating healthily and walking for half an hour each day and feel better.
- Observational learning (modelling): This is the behaviour acquisition that occurs by watching the actions and outcomes of others behaviour. Here the individual seems to be eating healthily and doing more exercise for four months and feel more energetic and attractive base on people’s perception.
- Reinforcements: this is responses to a person’s behaviour that increases or decrease. The likelihood of reoccurrence. This is done to forestall the likelihood of a relapse. The individual has to promote self- initiated rewards and incentives.
