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Changing behavior is difficult. It’s difficult even when there are significant rewards for changing. It’s difficult even when people want to change, and, of course, more difficult still when they don’t want to change. In attempts to improve healthful behaviors, the challenge ranges from helping those willing and ready to change to those who have refused to recognize the need to change and are defiantly opposed to changing.
The use of stage-based models(Baranowski, et al., 2003; Prochaska, et al., 1988; Riesma, et al., 2002) is widespread because they compartmentalize prescriptive treatments (Spencer, et al., 2006) and lend themselves to a manageable structure (Evers, et al., 2005). Our model, the Allen Behavioral Change model (ABCm), concurs with and builds on concepts common to prominent stage-based models for facilitating change (e.g. Prochaska & Velicer, 2004).
We emphasize the engagement of individuals who are voluntary participants as well as those who may have little interest in pursuing behavioral changes that could lead to improved health and quality of life.