Background: Coping and self-comforting behaviors are critical components of psychological well-being and adaptive functioning [17, 21]. While existing scales measure facets of these constructs, a unified instrument integrating various theoretical frameworks is needed. The Self-Comforting and Coping Scale (SCCS) was developed as a novel measure to address this gap [23]. This study provides a comprehensive psychometric evaluation of the SCCS and establishes foundational guidelines for its scoring and interpretation.

Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the SCCS. Specific aims included confirming its factorial structure, assessing internal consistency, and examining its relationships with other established psychological measures, such as those for self-compassion and mindfulness.

Methods: A total of 350 university students participated in the study. Participants completed the SCCS along with several validated scales to assess convergent and discriminant validity [25]. Data analysis included confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate the scale’s proposed structure, internal consistency checks using Cronbach's alpha, and correlation analyses to establish validity evidence.

Results: The CFA results confirmed the SCCS's proposed three-factor structure, with all fit indices meeting established criteria for a good model fit [7, 16]. The scale and its subscales demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.92. Convergent validity was supported by significant, positive correlations between SCCS scores and measures of self-compassion and psychological well-being [19]. A clear scoring system and preliminary interpretation guidelines were developed based on the study data.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that the SCCS is a psychometrically sound instrument with a robust factorial structure, strong internal consistency, and compelling validity evidence. This scale is a valuable new tool for researchers and practitioners interested in assessing an individual's self-comforting and coping behaviors, offering a more nuanced understanding of these critical psychological processes.  

Self-comforting, Coping, Psychometric evaluation, Scale development

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