A ground-breaking framework developed by Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu
We all engage in self-comforting behaviours – whether it’s wrapping ourselves in a warm blanket after a hard day, listening to a favourite song, or practicing deep breathing during stress. These behaviours are not merely habits or quirks; they represent a fundamental way in which individuals cope with internal emotional turmoil
(Obohwemu, 2024; Obohwemu et al., 2024)
A New Lens on Mental Health and Emotional Resilience
In an increasingly fast-paced and emotionally demanding world, understanding how individuals manage psychological distress is more important than ever. While public health continues to address widespread issues like anxiety, depression, and stress, one area remains underexplored – the subtle, everyday behaviours people use to self-soothe during times of difficulty. As a public health scholar, educator, and practitioner, I am excited to introduce a new theoretical framework and tool that fills this gap: the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT) and the accompanying Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS).
This blog presents the rationale, development, and significance of these groundbreaking contributions, and invites readers, researchers, and professionals to engage in a new conversation about emotional resilience and mental health intervention.
Understanding Self-Comforting: Why It Matters
We all engage in self-comforting behaviours – whether it’s wrapping ourselves in a warm blanket after a hard day, listening to a favourite song, or practicing deep breathing during stress. These behaviours are not merely habits or quirks; they represent a fundamental way in which individuals cope with internal emotional turmoil (Obohwemu, 2024; Obohwemu et al., 2024). Yet, the public health field has lacked a formal, evidence-based framework to explore and measure these actions—until now.
Key Gaps Addressed:
Lack of a structured theory on self-soothing as a coping mechanism.
Absence of a validated psychometric instrument to measure self-comforting behaviours.
Underutilisation of self-comforting concepts in mental health intervention strategies.
Introducing the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT): A World First
The SCCT, developed by Dr. Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu, is a pioneering framework that conceptualises self-comforting behaviours as intentional, adaptive responses to emotional distress. Grounded in cognitive-behavioural and psycho-social principles, this theory identifies self-comforting as a critical, yet often overlooked, mechanism for emotional regulation and psychological recovery (Obohwemu et al., 2025).
Core Components of SCCT:
Triggers: Emotional, environmental, or situational stressors prompting a coping response.
Behaviours: Physical, sensory, cognitive, or expressive actions aimed at restoring emotional balance.
The theory proposes that recognising and nurturing these behaviours can lead to more holistic, person-centred approaches in mental health care, education, and public health interventions.
The Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS): Another World First
Complementing the theory is the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS)—the first comprehensive psychometric tool specifically designed to measure self-comforting behaviours (Obohwemu, 2025). This scale is a validated, multidimensional instrument that captures the frequency, type, and effectiveness of these coping behaviours in diverse populations.
SCCS Features:
25-item structured questionnaire, refined through rigorous pilot testing and validation studies.
Assesses 13 key domains: perceived stress, positive affect, self-compassion, negative affect, coping strategies, learning from failure, cognitive reframing, mindfulness and acceptance, goal adjustment, personal rituals, visualization and future planning, reflection and journaling, and general wellbeing.
Applicable across diverse demographic groups, including young people, adults, and marginalised communities.
Designed for use in clinical, academic, and community health settings.
Real-World Impact and Applications
The implications of SCCT and SCCS are far-reaching across multiple sectors:
Mental Health Services Integrate self-comforting assessments into counselling and therapy for more personalised care.
Public Health Research Use the scale to track emotional coping trends in populations, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education & Student Support Apply the theory in developing mental health interventions and self-help tools for students under academic pressure.
Clinical Practice Empower practitioners to identify strengths and deficits in coping strategies among patients.
Academic Innovation Inspire further research into emotional regulation, stress management, and mental well-being.
Why Now? Why This Matters More Than Ever
The timing of this innovation is crucial. In the wake of rising global mental health concerns, there is a growing need for fresh, accessible, and compassionate approaches to wellbeing. The SCCT and SCCS offer just that—tools rooted in real human experiences, supported by science, and tailored to support resilience in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
As highlighted in Carlile (2020), addressing mental health issues through culturally relevant frameworks is essential in today’s educational and healthcare settings. Just as we navigate intersectionality and diversity in LGBT-inclusive education, we must also expand our frameworks for understanding emotional behaviour across different lived experiences.
Join the Conversation
To conclude, the SCCT and SCCS mark a new chapter in mental health and public health discourse. As we begin to apply and explore these innovations, I invite you to join the conversation.
Have you noticed how you or those around you self-comfort in difficult times? Are you a practitioner, educator, or researcher who wants to explore these tools further? Would you like to collaborate or incorporate this theory and scale into your work?
Let’s connect and collaborate. Leave a comment, share your thoughts, or reach out to continue this important dialogue.
Together, we can build more compassionate, evidence-informed systems that support the emotional wellbeing of individuals and communities everywhere.
References
Carlile, M. (2020). Teacher experiences of LGBTQ-inclusive education in primary schools serving faith communities in England, UK. Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 28(4), 625–644. DOI: 10.1080/14681366.2019.1681496
Obohwemu, K.O., (2024). Protocol for a systematic review of self-comforting behaviours across theoretical frameworks: Examining patterns, mechanisms, and socio-cultural influences over 50 years. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals, 4(06), pp.30-39.
Obohwemu, K.O., Yakpir, G. M., Onuorah, A.R., Bo, A.H.S.B., Bewaji, O.A., Abayomi, G., Omoregie, J., Henry, K., Ally, J., Abdelkader, N., Owusuaa-Asante, M.A. and Ndioho, F.I., (2024). SELF-COMFORTING BEHAVIOURS ACROSS THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS: A 50-YEAR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PATTERNS, MECHANISMS, AND SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCES. The American Journal of Social Science and Education Innovations, 6(12), pp.51-177.
Obohwemu, K., (2025). Theory and psychometric development of the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS): A novel measure of self-comforting behaviors. Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(3), pp.6-22.
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