Which stage defined as having recently changed behavior and intending to maintain that change is the:

• A. Precontemplation
• B. Contemplation
• C. Action
• D. Maintenance

Answer: (C)

The scenario reflects the stage where someone has actually started changing their behavior and intends to keep it up. This is the Action stage: individuals have recently made a concrete change and are actively modifying their behavior with the goal of maintaining it. They’ve moved from planning to doing, typically within the past few months, and express commitment to continuing the new behavior (for example, quitting smoking or adopting a healthier routine). Maintenance would involve sustaining that change over a longer period and focusing on relapse prevention, while contemplation and preparation are earlier steps where change is only being considered or planned, not yet enacted.