Self-comforting strategies used by adolescents

Two hundred sixty-four adolescents were surveyed in order to study the kinds and frequencies of self-comforting strategies they use. Fifty prompts with space to identify additional ones were provided. Significant differences were reported as determined by two-tailed t-tests. Gender was discriminating in both choice and frequency of soothers. Females selected most of the significant items. The results suggest that self-comforting strategies are ubiquitous, diverse, and developmentally progressive in adolescence.