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Health Psychology

Maintenance Stage

Maintenance Stage

This is the stage where a person has consistently sustained changed behavior for more than 6 months. The new behavior is becoming a habit, but ongoing management is still needed.

Details

Maintenance Stage is the fifth stage of the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change), a period in which the changed behavior is steadily maintained for 6 months or more and relapse is actively prevented.

Characteristics of the Maintenance Stage

  • Stabilization: The new behavior becomes part of everyday life
  • Increased self-efficacy: A stronger conviction that "I can do this"
  • Reduced temptation: Urges toward the old behavior decrease, though they don't disappear entirely
  • Identity shift: Forming a new self-image, such as "I am a non-smoker"

    • Relapse Prevention Strategies

  • Recognizing high-risk situations: Identifying in advance the situations most likely to trigger temptation
  • Coping plans: Preparing responses for crisis situations ahead of time
  • Ongoing self-monitoring: Consistently observing and recording one's behavior
  • Reaffirming motivation: Periodically revisiting why the change was made

    • Mindy's Encouragement

    Being in the Maintenance Stage is a truly remarkable achievement. Starting a change is hard, but sustaining it is where your real strength lies. It's okay to waver sometimes — you've already come so far.

    💡 Real-Life Example

    It has been over a year since quitting smoking. Life without cigarettes now feels natural, but occasional urges to smoke still arise in stressful situations.

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    Related Terms

    행동 단계
    재발 방지
    변화 단계 모델

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    This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.

    Maintenance Stage (Maintenance Stage) | 마음스캔 심리학 용어사전