eISSN: 2957-3602 editor@grpublishing.org
All Journals
Submit your article

Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Open Access Peer Review International
Open Access

Theory and Psychometric Development of the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS): A Novel Measure of Self-Comforting Behaviors

DOI https://doi.org/10.55640/gjhss/Volume04Issue03-02
PDF
Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu 1 ,
4 PhD, Faculty of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, GBS, Birmingham Campus, United Kingdom; and PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Abstract

The ability to cope with stress and adversity is crucial for psychological wellbeing. Self-comforting behaviours, which involve actions taken to soothe oneself during distress, are increasingly recognized as vital components of adaptive coping. However, systematic assessment of these behaviours remains underexplored. This study introduces the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS), a novel tool designed to measure self-comforting behaviours across diverse populations. The SCCS was developed through a multi-stage process, including literature review, expert consultations, focus group feedback, and pretesting, resulting in a comprehensive 13-domain framework. Findings indicate that the SCCS exhibits robust psychometric properties, including evidence of content and face validity. These results highlight the scale’s potential as a valuable measure for assessing self-comforting behaviours and their role in resilience, mental health, and wellbeing. The SCCS addresses a critical gap in coping research, offering a holistic approach to understanding self-comforting behaviours and their contributions to adaptive coping strategies. Additionally, the constructs of the SCCS closely align with the Self-Comforting and Coping Theory (SCCT), ensuring that the scale accurately reflects the theoretical framework it is designed to test. Future research is encouraged to further validate the SCCS through longitudinal studies, cross-cultural comparisons, and investigations into its applications in clinical and organizational settings. This work provides a valuable foundation for advancing both theoretical insights and practical interventions in stress management and resilience-building, making the SCCS a significant contribution to the field of psychological assessment.

Keywords

Self-Comforting Behaviours, Coping, Resilience, Mental Health, Psychometric Scale

References

📄 Boateng, G. O., Neilands, T. B., Frongillo, E. A., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., & Young, S. L. (2018). Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioural research: A primer. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00149.
📄 Bradshaw, M. and Kent, B.V., (2018). Prayer, attachment to God, and changes in psychological well-being in later life. Journal of aging and health, 30(5), pp.667-691.
📄 Butler, L.D., Mercer, K.A., McClain-Meeder, K., Horne, D.M. and Dudley, M., (2019). Six domains of self-care: Attending to the whole person. Journal of Human Behaviour in the Social Environment, 29(1), pp.107-124.
📄 Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56, 267-283.
📄 Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.
📄 Egan, H., O’Hara, M., Cook, A. and Mantzios, M., (2022). Mindfulness, self-compassion, resiliency and wellbeing in higher education: a recipe to increase academic performance. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(3), pp.301-311.
📄 Gold, J.A., Johnson, B., Leydon, G., Rohrbaugh, R.M. and Wilkins, K.M., (2015). Mental health self-care in medical students: a comprehensive look at help-seeking. Academic Psychiatry, 39, pp.37-46.
📄 Komanchuk, J., Toews, A.J., Marshall, S., Mackay, L.J., Hayden, K.A., Cameron, J.L., Duffett-Leger, L. and Letourneau, N., (2023). Impacts of parental technoference on parent–child relationships and child health and developmental outcomes: a scoping review. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking, 26(8), pp.579-603.
📄 Lambert, L. S., & Newman, D. A. (2022). Construct development and validation in three practical steps: Recommendations for reviewers, editors, and authors. Organizational Research Methods, 26(4), 574-607. https://doi.org/10.1177/10944281221115374.
📄 Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309027.
📄 Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful self-compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923.
📄 Obohwemu, K.O., (2024a). 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, Koretaine, S., et al., (2024b). 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.
📄 Paley, B. and Hajal, N.J., (2022). Conceptualizing emotion regulation and coregulation as family-level phenomena. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 25(1), pp.19-43.
📄 Rojas-Torres, L.P., Alonso-Esteban, Y., López-Ramón, M.F. and Alcantud-Marín, F., 2021. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Self Compassion (SC) training for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot trial in community services in Spain. Children, 8(5), p.316.
📄 Skinner, E.A., Zimmer-Gembeck, M.J., (2016). Ways and families of coping as adaptive processes. The Development of Coping: Stress, Neurophysiology, Social Relationships, and Resilience during Childhood and Adolescence, pp.27-49.
📄 Smith, B. W., Epstein, E. M., Ortiz, J. A., Christopher, P. J., & Tooley, E. M. (2018). The foundations of resilience: What are the critical resources for bouncing back from stress? In B. W. Smith (Ed.), Resilience Interventions for Youth in Diverse Populations (pp. 15-34). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77492-3_2
📄 Sun, X., Seeley, J.R. and Allen, N.B., (2022). Parental internalizing disorder and the developmental trajectory of infant self-regulation: The moderating role of positive parental behaviours. Development and psychopathology, 34(1), pp.1-17.
📄 Swan, K., Speyer, R., Scharitzer, M., Farneti, D., Brown, T., Woisard, V. and Cordier, R., (2023). Measuring what matters in healthcare: a practical guide to psychometric principles and instrument development. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, p.1225850.
📄 Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., Barreto, M., Vines, J., Atkinson, M., Long, K., Bakewell, L., Lawson, S. and Wilson, M., (2019). Coping with loneliness at university: A qualitative interview study with students in the UK. Mental Health & Prevention, 13, pp.21-30.
📄 Wang, J.F., (2020). Exploring Self-Care and Its Associations with Burnout, Vitality, and Academic Goal Achievement in University Students (Doctoral dissertation, Carleton University).

How to Cite

Theory and Psychometric Development of the Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS): A Novel Measure of Self-Comforting Behaviors. (2025). Global Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(03), 6-22. https://doi.org/10.55640/gjhss/Volume04Issue03-02

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > >> 

Similar Articles

1-10 of 21

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.