During which stage do individuals transition to automated, healthy habits?

The correct answer to the question regarding the stage during which individuals transition to automated, healthy habits is Maintenance.

In this stage, individuals have successfully implemented changes in their behavior and are focusing on maintaining those changes over time. Maintenance is characterized by individuals practicing their new, healthier behaviors consistently, leading to a reduction in the effort required to perform those behaviors. As these healthy actions become a regular part of daily life, they begin to feel more automatic, indicating that individuals have moved beyond the early, more effortful stages of change.

This stage is crucial for long-term success in behavior change, as it helps to prevent relapse and reinforces the habits that support a healthier lifestyle. Individuals in the Maintenance stage are often equipped with coping strategies and support systems to help them stick to their new habits, ensuring they remain on the path they have chosen.

In contrast, the other stages indicate different stages of the change process, where individuals are still in the process of preparing for, initiating, or actively engaging in behavior change but have not yet reached the automatic nature of their new habits.