Abstract
Sometimes in health behavior research, purportedly novel theoretical models are offered that may help move thinking about behavior change forward, and may be well-received by clinicians, but over time end up being a subject of continual scientific disconfirmation. The transtheoretical model is one rather popular example. The five stages of change and associated 10 processes of change are well-known (e.g., DiClemente et al., 2008; DiClemente et al., 2004). Yet, the model has been discredited to a large extent by several in the health behavior research community. In the present editorial, we briefly summarize the transtheoretical model, mention its current ongoing popularity, identify the critiques of this model, and suggest how one might best consider the model in future health behavior research and practice.
Author ORCID Identifier
Research reported in this publication was supported by a California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program Award (TRDRP Grant #26IR-0016, Steve Sussman, PI) and a National Cancer Institute Award (NCI Grant #R01CA228905, Pallav Pokhrel, PI).
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Sussman, Steven Yale; Ayala, Nayeli; Pokhrel, Pallav; and Herzog, Thaddeus A.
(2022)
"Reflections on the Continued Popularity of the Transtheoretical Model,"
Health Behavior Research:
Vol. 5:
No.
3.
https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1128
