In what might be considered a quiet revolution in psychological assessment, a transformative tool is casting fresh light on how people navigate their emotional challenges. The Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS), developed by Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu, has emerged as the first comprehensive framework for measuring self-soothing behaviors during times of distress.
The scale, detailed in a recent publication in the Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, examines 13 distinct dimensions, ranging from cognitive reframing and mindfulness to goal adjustment. While researchers have long studied concepts like resilience and emotional regulation, the systematic measurement of self-comforting behaviors has remained something of a blind spot in psychological research—until now.
“Self-comforting is an overlooked but fundamental dimension of coping,” notes Dr. Obohwemu, a Nigeria-born medical doctor and university lecturer now based in the UK. “With the SCCS, we are not just measuring behavior—we are redefining how we understand emotional self-regulation and psychological resilience.”
The development of the SCCS wasn’t a matter of chance. It followed a meticulous scientific process, weaving together insights from literature reviews, expert consultations, and focus group feedback. What sets it apart from existing measures is its laser focus on self-soothing behaviors that influence emotional resilience and psychological stability, as outlined in the comprehensive research paper.
Alongside the scale, Dr. Obohwemu has introduced the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT), suggesting that people who actively engage in self-comforting practices tend to show more adaptive coping mechanisms and greater psychological resilience. This theoretical framework is already finding practical applications in ongoing studies, including research on helping students cope with academic failure.
The SCCS is proving remarkably versatile, with applications spanning clinical psychology, education, and occupational health. Mental health professionals are finding it valuable for assessing adaptive versus maladaptive self-comforting strategies, while educators and workplace leaders are using it to prevent burnout and nurture emotional wellbeing among their students and employees.
The timeline looks great as researchers plan to focus on broadening the scale’s applications across diverse populations and conducting long-term studies to further validate its effectiveness. Cross-cultural validation studies are also in the pipeline to ensure the tool’s global applicability, with updates and findings regularly shared on The Score Study website.
For mental health researchers and practitioners, the SCCS represents more than just another item in their assessment toolkit—it opens new doors for understanding and supporting psychological wellbeing in our increasingly complex world.
