Describe five stages of readiness for changing health-related behaviors.

ANSWER:
The first stage is precontemplation in which the person does not perceive a health-related problem and has no intention of changing anytime soon. The second stage is contemplation and occurs when a problem behavior has been identified and the person is seriously thinking about changing it. In the third stage, preparation, the person has a strong intention to change and has made specific plans to do so. During the fourth stage, action, the person is engaging successfully in behavior change. In the fifth stage, maintenance, the healthy behavior has continued for at least six months and the person is using newly learned skills to prevent relapse.