When counselling sedentary clients on behavioural modification, during what stage of change are they at most risk for relapse?

The stage of change where sedentary clients are at the highest risk for relapse is during the action stage. At this point, clients have actively started to modify their behavior by engaging in physical activities and making lifestyle changes. This stage often involves significant adjustments and requires a strong commitment to maintaining new habits.

During the action stage, individuals may experience various challenges such as fatigue, lack of immediate results, social pressures, or stress that can undermine their motivation. The transition from motivation and intention to tangible changes can be difficult, and any setbacks or difficulties in maintaining the new behavior can lead to relapse. Therefore, while individuals may be actively engaged in their behavior change, the risks associated with maintaining that change are pronounced, necessitating strong support and coping strategies to sustain their progress.

The other stages, such as precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation, involve less risk for immediate relapse as individuals are not actively engaging in behavior change at these points, but rather thinking about it, weighing the pros and cons, or getting ready to act.