In the maintenance stage of health behavior change, which statement is true?

• A. Sustained change is noticed over time and continues indefinitely.
• B. The client is actively engaged in strategies to change behavior.
• C. The client contemplates changing within the next year.
• D. Change ends after six months.

Answer: (A)

Maintenance is about keeping the new behavior going over time and preventing relapse. After the change has been made, the focus shifts to sustaining it as a long-term part of daily life. That’s why the idea that sustained change is noticed over time and continues indefinitely best describes maintenance. The other statements fit earlier stages or assume the change ends after a set period, which isn’t how maintenance works; active change efforts, contemplation, or a fixed end don’t capture the ongoing, long-term nature of maintaining a new behavior.