Theoretical Framework

The Transtheoretical Model of Health and Stages of Change

Made by Prochaska, Diclemente, & Norcross in 1992 and developed until 2010, It was
introduced as an integrative, biopsychosocial model to be able to conceptualize the
process of intentional behavior change. It seeks to include and integrate key concepts
from other theories into a comprehensive theory of change that can be applied to a wide
variety of behaviors, people, and different environments. The stages of change are
found as the core of the Transtheoretical Model. Studies on change found that people
go through a series of changes when changing behavior. While the time a person stays
on each stage is a variable, the things needed to be done to move on to the next stage
are not. Certain principles and processes of change work at best each stage to reduce
resistance, facilitate progress, and preventing relapse. This includes decisional balance,
self-efficacy, and processes of change. While progression through the stages occur in a
linear way, non-linear progression is common due to people going back to earlier
stages.
Precontemplation (Not Ready)
The individuals here do not intend to act in the foreseeable future of about the next 6
months. Being uninformed of their unhealthy behavior can cause a person to stay in the
precontemplation stage. Multiple unsuccessful attempts at change can lead to
demoralization about the ability to change until the foreseeable future.
Contemplation (Getting Ready)
It is the change where people intend to change in the upcoming six months. They are
aware of the benefits of changing, but are not really aware of the disadvantages.
Preparation (Ready)
The stage where the individual takes action in the immediate future, measured in the
next month. Usually, people have already taken significant action in the past.
Action
It is the stage where people have made specific overt changes in their lifestyles within 6
months. Because the action is significant, the overall process of change is equals to
action.

Maintenance
The stage in which people made specific changes in their lifestyles and are working to
prevent relapse or regression; however, individuals here do not act as frequently as
people are in the action stage.
Termination
The stage in which individuals are not tempted to for a relapse or regression, they have
100% self-efficacy. While having problems such as depression, anxiety, angry or
stressed, people in this stage are sure they will not return to unhealthy habits and
behaviors.
Health Belief Model
First developed by Hochbaum, Rosenstock, and Kegels in 1950, it is a psychological
model that attempts to explain and predict an individuals health behavior. This is
observed by focusing on the attitude and beliefs of certain individuals. For people to
adopt recommended physical activity behaviors, they must perceive the threat of
disease and benefits of action must outweigh the perceived difficulties.
Macroanaytic, Trait-Oriented Coping Theories
Compiled by Krohne, it is established in two central constructs to understand cognitive
responses to stress. First is vigilance which is the orientation toward stressful aspects of
an encounter and cognitive avoidance, the averting of attention from any stress-related
information. Approaches to these conceptions are repression-sensitization which is
where individuals tend to deny the existence of the stress, monitoring-blunting which is
the seeking of information under the threat or stress and avoidance of information, and
attention-rejection which is the focusing of attention on the stressor or rejecting it.