At which stage of change are self-efficacy levels generally the highest?

Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. In the context of behavior change, particularly within the stages of change model, self-efficacy levels tend to be the highest during the maintenance stage.

During maintenance, individuals have already adopted a new behavior and have likely experienced success in sustaining it over time. This repeated success reinforces their confidence in continuing the behavior, making them feel more capable of overcoming obstacles that may arise and less likely to revert to previous habits. The stability that comes from consistent practice contributes significantly to high self-efficacy levels.

In contrast, self-efficacy levels can be lower in other stages, such as preparation or action, where individuals are still in the process of learning and adapting. In the precontemplation stage, individuals are often unaware or resistant to the need for change, leading to minimal confidence regarding their capacity to implement or sustain new behaviors. Thus, the maintenance stage is characterized by the highest self-efficacy, reflecting a well-established commitment to the behavior change.