Mary expresses a desire to change her smoking habits due to her daughter’s concerns for her granddaughter. What stage of change is she in?

Mary is in the contemplation stage of change. This stage is characterized by an individual acknowledging that there is a problem or a behavior that needs changing and starting to think about making a change. Mary's desire to alter her smoking habits, motivated by her daughter’s concerns for her granddaughter, indicates that she is reflecting on the implications of her smoking and considering the benefits of quitting or reducing her tobacco use.

In this stage, individuals typically weigh the pros and cons of changing their behavior, which is evident in Mary's situation as she is considering her smoking in light of family concerns. This reflects an awareness of the need for change, moving beyond simply ignoring the issue, which is representative of the pre-contemplation stage. The maintenance and action stages would imply she has already made significant changes or is actively working toward those changes, which doesn't align with her current state of simply expressing a desire to change.