Validation and Construct Validity of the Posttraumatic Avoidance Behaviour Questionnaire in a Sample of Trauma‐Exposed Black Women

Abstract

Engaging in posttraumatic avoidance behaviors after a traumatic incident is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes. Given the inherent limitations in the scope of the two‐item assessment of posttraumatic avoidance used in commonly administered measures of PTSD symptoms, the 25‐item Posttraumatic Avoidance Behaviour Questionnaire (PABQ) was developed to assess a range of avoidance behaviors, including avoidance of visual and sensory reminders, trauma‐related thoughts, and agoraphobia, as well as avoidance related to the home, sleep, and social interaction. However, the PABQ's utility is limited by its lack of (a) construct validity and (b) validation in diverse samples. To address these limitations, we examined the psychometric properties of PABQ scores in a sample of trauma‐exposed Black women (N = 601, M age = 41 years). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the original seven‐factor model fit the data well when Item 8 was excluded, χ2(231, N = 602) = 497.86, RMSEA = .04, 90% CI [.04, .05], CFI = .99, TLI = .989, WRMR = .939, but reliability estimates were variable (i.e., Cronbach's αs = .70–.91). In addition, we found support for convergent validity, clinical validity, and incremental validity. These results provide evidence for the psychometric strengths of the PABQ in minority samples and suggest that it is a valid assessment of posttraumatic avoidance in Black women.