title: Understanding and modeling health behavior: the multi-stage model of health behavior change.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Multi-Stage Model (MSM). The MSM proposes eight different stages that are distinguished by cognitions and behavior and concepts of habituation as well. The MSM stages were assessed in 835 rehabilitation patients with a questionnaire. People in the different stages were compared and trends across the means of individuals in the different stages were evaluated to test for discontinuity patterns. Discontinuity patterns across the stages were found in social-cognitive variables such as intention, self-efficacy, outcome expectancies and social support. Most predictions according to stage differences were empirically found. This supported the validity of the MSM. Implications for further investigations and stage-specific interventions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Health Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. slippke@zedat.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lippke
authors.forename: Jochen P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ziegelmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003071:Cognition; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires