In a landmark advancement in psychological assessment, Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri
Obohwemu, has introduced the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS)—a novel
psychometric tool designed to systematically measure self-comforting behaviours.
This innovative scale fills a significant gap in coping research by providing the first
comprehensive framework for assessing how individuals self-soothe during stress
and adversity.

For decades, psychologists have explored resilience, emotional regulation, and self-
compassion as vital aspects of mental health. However, self-comforting
behaviours—actions that individuals consciously or unconsciously use to soothe
themselves during distress—have remained largely underexplored. Dr. Obohwemu’s
research changes this by offering a scientifically validated instrument that not only
measures self-comforting behaviours but also lays the foundation for an emerging
psychological theory—the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT).

A Revolutionary Step in Psychological Research

The SCCS, developed through rigorous scientific methods, captures 13 distinct
dimensions of self-comforting behaviours, including cognitive reframing, mindfulness,
goal adjustment, and self-compassion. Unlike existing measures such as the Brief
COPE (Carver et al., 1989) and the Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), which
focus on broad coping strategies, the SCCS offers a highly specialized assessment
of self-soothing behaviours that influence emotional resilience, psychological
stability, and overall wellbeing.

Dr. Obohwemu’s research, published in Global Journal of Humanities and Social
Sciences, provides a quantifiable measure of self-comforting behaviours and
facilitates a deeper exploration of their contribution to resilience and mental health.
This understanding is crucial for developing targeted interventions and support
systems for individuals facing stress. The robust psychometric properties of the
SCCS, evidenced by its content and face validity, further solidify its significance,
ensuring that assessments are accurate and reliable.

Introducing the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT)

Beyond developing the SCCS, Dr. Obohwemu is spearheading a new psychological
paradigm—the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT)—which explores how
self-soothing behaviours interact with stress responses, resilience mechanisms, and
emotional wellbeing. Obohwemu’s Self-Comforting and Coping Theory posits that
individuals who actively engage in self-comforting practices are more likely to
demonstrate adaptive coping, reducing stress-induced dysfunction and promoting
long-term psychological resilience.

According to Dr. Obohwemu, “Self-comforting is an overlooked but fundamental
dimension of coping. With the SCCS and SCCT, we are not just measuring
behaviour—we are redefining how we understand emotional self-regulation and
psychological resilience.”

A Tool with Broad Applications

The SCCS is poised to revolutionize multiple fields, including clinical psychology,
education, occupational health, and personal development. It offers psychologists a
powerful new tool for assessing adaptive vs. maladaptive self-comforting strategies,
allowing for targeted interventions in mental health treatment.

Educators and workplace leaders can also benefit from the SCCS by identifying
effective self-soothing strategies among students and employees, fostering
emotional wellbeing, and preventing burnout. The scale’s diverse applicability across
clinical, academic, and organizational settings underscores its potential to reshape
how we approach stress management and resilience-building in everyday life.

What’s Next? The Future of Self-Comforting Research

While the SCCS is a groundbreaking tool, Dr. Obohwemu emphasizes that this is
just the beginning. Future research will expand on the SCCS by exploring its
applications in diverse populations, conducting longitudinal studies, and further
refining the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory. Additionally, cross-cultural validation
will ensure that the SCCS remains globally applicable, addressing cultural variations
in self-soothing behaviours.

The introduction of the SCCS and SCCT marks a transformative moment in
psychological science, bringing much-needed attention to self-comforting as a critical
aspect of mental health. With Dr. Obohwemu leading the charge, the study of self-
soothing behaviours is set to redefine how we understand, measure, and apply
coping mechanisms in both research and practice.

For mental health professionals, educators, and researchers, the SCCS is more than
just a scale—it’s a game-changer.

For more information on the SCCS, its validation studies, and ongoing research into
the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory, visit https://www.TheScoreStudy.com.

About Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu

Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu is a distinguished researcher and mental health
advocate dedicated to advancing the study of self-comforting and adaptive coping
mechanisms. A Nigeria-born medical doctor, Dr. Obohwemu is now a university
lecturer based in the UK. His pioneering work in psychometric scale development
and theoretical psychology has earned him recognition in the field, with the SCCS
and SCCT being his most recent contributions to mental health research. Dr.
Obohwemu’s contributions extend to public health education, where he actively engages in teaching and mentoring students in the field of health and social care.

Through his dedication and innovative research, Dr. Obohwemu continues to make
significant strides in the field of mental health, helping to shape the future of
psychological assessment and intervention strategies.