Development and validation of the Spanish Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT)

The Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT) was developed to monitor biopsychosocial processes of change that are of relevance to individual treatment goals. It applies an idionomic approach to identify key processes of change, using high temporal density measurement applied at the level of the person. The purpose of the present study was to psychometrically validate the Spanish version of the PBAT and to expand the cross-cultural application of the questionnaire. A representative sample of 602 participants completed an online, cross-sectional questionnaire. Methods from the original study were followed including the same criterion variables; psychological distress (sadness, anxiety, stress, anger, lack of social support), health, and vitality level, and the need or frustration of autonomy, connection, and competence. Results showed that PBAT items significantly predicted criterion variables; Positive behaviors from the PBAT were the strongest predictors of health, vitality, as well as need satisfaction of autonomy, connection and competence. Negative behaviors from the PBAT were the strongest predictors of psychological distress, as well as the frustration of autonomy, connection and competence. Despite evidence for cultural differences in specific items, the overall conclusions of this validation study are consistent with the original study. The Spanish version of PBAT can be recommended for use in further scientific research and therapeutic processes.