In what has been widely hailed as a major advancement in psychological assessment, award-winning author Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu has introduced the self-comforting and coping scale.

Arewa PUNCH reports that the self-comforting and coping scale is a groundbreaking tool developed to measure self-soothing behaviours in a structured, scientific way.

According to the acclaimed mental health advocate, “this novel research marks the first time a standardised framework has been introduced to assess self-comforting – a key yet under-researched aspect of emotional regulation.

“The SCCS promises to unlock new understanding around how people cope with stress and build resilience.

“While emotional resilience and coping strategies have been widely studied over the years, the specific behaviours people engage in to comfort themselves during emotional distress have often been overlooked,” noted Dr. Obohwemu, whose work “addresses this gap, offering a validated tool that not only measures these behaviours but also introduces a broader psychological model: the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory.”

Our correspondent further reports that this advancement carries significant implications for mental health research, clinical practice, and emotional wellness, just as the SCCS stands to reshape how professionals understand and support healthy coping mechanisms.

The research report added that as a landmark in coping research developed through meticulous research and validation, the SCCS identifies 13 key types of self-comforting behaviours, such as mindfulness, positive self-talk, reframing thoughts, and emotional adjustment.

Compared to general coping tools like the Brief COPE or the Self-Compassion Scale, the SCCS provides a more focused evaluation of the behaviours individuals use specifically to self-soothe – behaviours directly linked to psychological well-being and emotional balance.

Dr. Obohwemu’s findings, published in the Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, further deliver a scientifically reliable scale that provides meaningful data for use in research and clinical settings.

Introducing the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory alongside the SCCS, Dr. Obohwemu presents a new psychological model – the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory.

The SCCT explores the relationship between self-soothing actions and one’s ability to manage stress and maintain emotional resilience over time.

The medic, who describes self-comforting as a vital, often misunderstood element of coping, stressed, “We’re not just introducing a measurement tool. We’re redefining how emotional self-regulation is understood through the lens of self-comfort.”

Applications Across Sectors

The SCCS offers valuable applications in mental health, education, the workplace, and beyond. It enables professionals to identify both helpful and unhelpful self-soothing behaviours, supporting more tailored mental health interventions.

Educators, therapists, and workplace leaders can use the scale to better understand how individuals respond to stress – helping to foster emotional well-being, prevent burnout, and promote resilience in students, clients, and staff alike.

So, what’s ahead for SCCS and SCCT?

Though the launch of the SCCS is a significant milestone, Dr. Obohwemu views this as the beginning of a larger journey. He plans to expand the tool’s use across different cultures and populations, carry out long-term studies, and continue refining the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory.

“Cross-cultural validation is essential,” he noted, “as people express and practice self-comfort in different ways depending on their background.”

This research ushers in a new era in psychological science, shining a light on self-comforting as a crucial part of mental health support and understanding.

With Dr. Obohwemu at the forefront, self-soothing is no longer a peripheral concept – it’s becoming a central part of how we study, assess, and enhance human resilience.

Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu is a UK-based academic and mental health researcher originally from Nigeria.

The medical doctor, known for his commitment to advancing the understanding of coping and emotional regulation, Dr. Obohwemu’s work has earned recognition in both academic and mental health communities.

His latest contributions – the SCCS and SCCT – represent a major step forward in the field of psychological assessment and intervention.

He also teaches in the areas of public health, psychology, and social care and continues to mentor the next generation of health professionals.



https://punchng.com/uk-based-nigerian-doctor-develops-new-treatment-for-emotionally-disturbed-patients/