What does the maintenance stage in the Change Model primarily work to prevent?

The maintenance stage in the Change Model is primarily focused on preventing relapse into old behaviors. During this stage, individuals who have made changes in their behavior strive to maintain their new habits and skills and work actively to integrate these changes into their daily lives. This involves developing strategies to cope with triggers or situations that may lead them back to previous, unwanted behaviors.

Relapse can occur due to various factors, such as stress, social pressure, or lack of support, which is why this stage emphasizes vigilance and continuous effort to reinforce the positive changes made. By concentrating on maintaining these new behaviors, individuals increase their chances of long-term success and overall well-being.

While confusion about treatment, overconfidence, and complacency can be issues at different stages of behavior change, the central aim of the maintenance stage is specifically to stabilize the new behavior and avoid reverting to earlier patterns.