Modifying the stages of change model to assess healthy behaviours

Procheska and DiClemente’s (1982; 1992; 1997) Stages of Change model assesses an individual’s readiness to change a health behaviour. The model is comprised of five stages (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance) and was originally developed for the assessment of unhealthy behaviours (e.g. smoking). According to the model, ‘precontemplators’ engage in the unhealthy behaviour and are unaware that their current behaviour is problematic. Thus, the measure of precontemplation should capture individuals that are not currently meeting the guidelines for healthy behaviours (such as physical activity and nutrition). This study compared the traditional precontemplation measure to a modified version in the assessment of two healthy behaviours: physical activity and nutrition behaviours. Eight hundred and ninety-seven participants (658 male; 239 female) completed a self-report health survey to measure stage of change and current health behaviours. In both the physical activity and nutrition measure of stage of change, the modified measure improved accuracy and captured fewer individuals currently meeting the guideline. This result implies that the Stages of Change measure for precontemplation could be modified to reflect knowledge that the behaviour is unhealthy and apathy to change when applied to healthy behaviours.