Everyone has their own ways of finding comfort during difficult times – whether it’s taking a long walk, wrapping up in a favorite blanket, or simply talking to ourselves. Now, Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu has developed a framework to systematically measure these universal yet deeply personal behaviors, addressing a critical gap in psychological research.
In his groundbreaking study on the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS), Dr. Obohwemu introduces a novel tool designed to measure self-comforting behaviors across diverse populations. The research, which underwent a rigorous multi-stage development process including expert consultations and focus group feedback, has established a comprehensive 13-domain framework for understanding how we soothe ourselves during distress.
This innovative work has been further validated through additional research published in the Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, which demonstrates the SCCS’s robust psychometric properties and its potential as a valuable measure for assessing self-comforting behaviors and their role in resilience, mental health, and wellbeing.
“Self-comforting is an overlooked but fundamental dimension of coping,” Dr. Obohwemu explains, his passion for the subject evident. “With the SCCS, we’re not just measuring behavior—we’re fundamentally redefining how we understand emotional self-regulation and psychological resilience.”
The implications of this work extend far beyond theoretical research. A recent study focusing on academic environments has shown promising results in helping students cope with academic failure and build stress management techniques. The research, conducted across multiple university campuses, demonstrates how self-comforting practices like mindfulness and meditation can help students manage stress and improve their emotional well-being when facing academic challenges.
“What makes the SCCS particularly valuable is its versatility,” notes Dr. Obohwemu. His team has established The Score Study platform as a comprehensive resource for researchers and practitioners, hosting detailed information about the scale’s validation studies and ongoing research into the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT). “Whether you’re a clinical psychologist, an educator, or a workplace wellness coordinator, this tool offers insights into how people naturally cope with stress.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Obohwemu and his team are working to validate the SCCS across different cultures and populations. This expansion will ensure the scale’s relevance for diverse communities worldwide, acknowledging that self-comforting behaviors might manifest differently across cultural contexts.
As mental health continues to dominate public discourse, the SCCS arrives as a timely contribution to the field. It provides mental health professionals with a reliable, evidence-based tool for understanding and measuring how individuals navigate emotional challenges. In an era where stress and anxiety levels continue to rise globally, such innovations in psychological assessment couldn’t be more welcome.
