Prediction of Stage Transitions in Fruit and Vegetable Intake. Health Education Research. Advance online publication. DOI: 10.1093/her/cyn061. Curriculum Vitae 142 Paper under review

Stage theories propose that individuals pass through different stages on their way toward behavior change. The present study examines stage-specific prediction patterns of social– cognitive variables (risk perception, outcome expectancies, perceived self-efficacy, action planning and social support) regarding transi-tions between the three stages of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA; preintention, intention and action stage). In an online study (n 5 494) on fruit and vegetable intake, social– cognitive variables and stages were assessed at baseline and stage transitions 4 weeks later. Tran-sitions between the preintention, intention and action stage were predicted by social–cognitive variables using binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Stage-specific prediction patterns emerged for stage progression and stage regression. Outcome expectancies predicted pro-gression from the preintention stage, whereas so-cial support predicted progression to the action stage. Low levels of planningwere associatedwith relapse to thepreintention and the intention stage. Self-efficacy emerged as a universal predictor of stage transitions. Findings support not only the usefulness of the stage construct for describing health behavior change but also the validity of the HAPAvariables as predictors of stage transi-tions. Stage-matched interventions targeting the variables identified as stage-specific predictors might support stage progression toward the goal behavior