Maintenance stage is characterized by sustained change and ongoing strategies to prevent relapse. Which option best describes this stage?

• A. Action only, with no ongoing effort
• B. Maintenance with ongoing strategies
• C. Precontemplation
• D. Contemplation

Answer: (B)

In the stage of maintenance, the focus is on sustaining the new behavior over the long term and actively using relapse-prevention strategies. This means continuing to apply coping skills, monitor progress, adjust routines, and seek support to keep the change from slipping back. That ongoing, relapse-avoidance emphasis is what sets maintenance apart from earlier stages. The description that mentions sustained change with ongoing strategies best fits this phase. By contrast, action centers on the period of making the change, not yet emphasizing long-term upkeep; precontemplation and contemplation are stages where change hasn’t been adopted or is only being considered, respectively.