Owing to the recent success of the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change and the possible relationships between health behaviors, this study investigated the stage distribution of 10 healthy behaviors (seatbelt use, avoidance of high fat food, eating a high-fiber diet, attempting to lose weight, exercising regularly, avoiding sun exposure, sunscreen use, attempting to reduce stress, stopping smoking, and conducting cancer self-exams) and their interrelationships in a representative sample of health maintenance organization (HMO) members. The majority of older adults were found to be in either precontemplation or maintenance, illustrating the need to target interventions to precontemplation. Most older individuals were in precontemplation for losing weight and/ or sunscreen use and exercise, making these behaviors a priority for intervention research. Possible gateway behaviors to general health could be identified; however, these results are preliminary and require longitudinal follow-up.

on es U n iver sity of Rh ode Isla n d, Ca n cer Pr even t ion Resea rch Cen t er Kin gst on , Rh ode Isla n d, U SA Mic h elle R. Della Cor t e U n iver sity of Rh ode Isla n d, Depar t m en t of Psych ology Kin gst on , Rh ode Isla n d, U SA Cla u d i o R. Ni g g U n iver sity of Rh ode Isla n d, Ca n cer Pr even t ion Resea rch Cen t er Kin gst on , Rh ode Isla n d, U SA P h i lli p G. Cla r kRh od e Isla nd Ger iat ric E du ca t ion Cen t er, P r ogr am in Geron t ology Kin gst on , Rh ode Isla n d, U SA P a t r i c ia M. Bu r b a n k U n iver sity of Rh ode Isla n d, College of Nu r sin g Kin gst on , Rh ode Isla n d, U SA The a u t h or s t h a n k Dr. An n e H u m e for com m en ts on a n ea r lier dr a ft of th is a r t icle. Th is r esea r ch is su ppor t ed by Rh ode Isla n d P r even tion Coa lition Gr a n t (P.I. P h illip G. Cla rk ). Dr. Nicole J on es is n ow a t t h e Alba n y College of P h a rm a cy, Alba n y, NY Address corr espon den ce to Cla u dio R. Nigg, Depa r t m en t of P u blic Hea lth Scien ces, J ABSOM, Un iver sit y of H a wa ii, Ma n oa , 1960 E a st West Roa d, Hon olu lu , H1 96822, USA. E m a il: cn igg@h a wa ii.edu E duca t ion a l Ger on t ology, 27: 717-728, 2001 Copyr ight # 2001 Bru n n er -Rou t ledge