AN EMPIRICAL TYPOLOGY OF SUBJECTS WITHIN STAGE OF CHANGE

The transtheoretical model of behavior change postulates five distinct , well-defined stages of change: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Prep aration, Action, and Maintenance. Each stage has been regarded as refl ecting a motivational posture and treated as if it is homogenous with respect to membership. This paper reports the results of four cluster analytic studies, one within each of the first four stages of change. The cluster analysis was based on three constructs of the model. Four distinct subtypes were found within Contemplation, Preparation, and Ac tion, and three subtypes were found within Precontemplation. External validation for the clusters was provided using the 10 Processes of Cha nge and 8 behavioral measures as dependent measures. At least one subt ype corresponded to the existing stage definition but the other subtyp es suggested alternative intervention strategies.