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Descriptors:
Behavior Change; Comprehensive School Health Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Student Behavior; Students
Abstract:
Health-related habits develop early in life. The period during junior high school is especially important for developing these habits. Because adolescent behaviors may be better predictors of adult disease than adult health behaviors, interventions with children and adolescents are important. Several theories and models for explaining how people change their behavior exist. This Digest explores the more recent Transtheoretical Model and discusses how educators can apply it in working with students. The Transtheoretical Model acknowledges several stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The typical path of behavior change usually involves slips backward to earlier stages, though progression may occur more rapidly after a slip due to insights gained when previously in the earlier stage. Only a small percentage of any group is ready for change at a given time, so educators must use a variety of processes of change to reach their audiences. Some of the processes most helpful in the early stages of change are consciousness raising, emotional arousal, self-reevaluation, and commitment. Processes most helpful in the action stage include active problem solving, counterconditioning, and creating helping relationships. Students involved in behavior change must learn to plan and pace their change processes. Necessary skills for behavior change include self-monitoring, effective goal setting, relapse prevention, assertiveness, counterconditioning, stimulus control, and reward skills. (Contains 11 references.) (SM)
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