Mary's situation of craving a cigarette after work indicates she is in which stage of change?

Mary's craving for a cigarette after work suggests she is experiencing a challenge related to maintaining her behavior change regarding smoking. In the context of the stages of change model, maintenance is characterized by individuals who have successfully modified their behavior (in this case, quitting smoking) and are now working to sustain that change and avoid relapse triggers, such as cravings.

Cravings can be significant indicators of the ongoing struggle individuals may face even after they initially quit smoking. The maintenance stage extends over time, often requiring continuous effort and strategies to cope with such urges. This demonstrates a critical phase where individuals actively practice the new, healthier behavior and resist the temptation to revert to old habits, reflecting that Mary is in a maintenance stage.

The other stages mentioned involve different aspects of readiness to change, which do not align with Mary's experience of craving post-change.