Dispositional mindfulness as an antecedent of privacy concerns: A protection motivation theory perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of mindfulness, an important personality trait, on people's perceptions of privacy. Using protection motivation theory as a conceptual foundation, the central tenet is that mindfulness plays an important role in people's threat appraisal process of privacy concerns and thus influences one's intention to share personal information online. A survey‐based approach was employed to measure privacy attitudes of 685 UK individuals about online data disclosure. Our findings demonstrate that mindfulness contributes to the formation of privacy concerns. A more mindful consumer is more likely to adopt a more objective appraisal style, interpret privacy threats as less threatening, and thus share personal information online.

The Role of Mindfulness in Mitigating the Negative Consequences of Technostress

“…Dispositional mindfulness, also known as trait mindfulness, is the focus of the present study. Dispositional mindfulness is malleable and can be enhanced and cultivated through training and interventions programs (Ioannou et al, 2021 ; Quaglia et al, 2016 ).…”

Digital technologies and privacy: State of the art and research directions

“…However, recent research on systematic crosscultural differences in "consumers" privacy-related attitudes and behaviors remains scant. Not surprisingly, multiple researchers (e.g., Aboulnasr et al, 2022;Cowan et al, 2021;Ioannou et al, 2021) advocate for future research that examines the role of culture.…”

“…However, recent research on systematic cross‐cultural differences in “consumers” privacy‐related attitudes and behaviors remains scant. Not surprisingly, multiple researchers (e.g., Aboulnasr et al, 2022; Cowan et al, 2021; Ioannou et al, 2021) advocate for future research that examines the role of culture. Whereas “consumers” experience and fluency with digital technologies may vary across countries and set up different privacy expectations, the more interesting avenues for future inquiry lie in the interaction of specific cultural difference variables and the digital context.…”

“…Further research is also needed to understand consumers' individual differences in their privacy-related behavior when shopping online. For instance,Ioannou et al (2021) examine a previously unexplored individual difference variable, trait mindfulness, finding that consumers' trait mindfulness negatively affects their privacy concerns and influences willingness to disclose personal information to firms online.…”

Exploring the Roles of Dispositional Mindfulness and Cognitive Reappraisal in the Relationship Between Neuroticism and Depression Among Postgraduate Students in China

“…Neuroticism is considered a core characteristic, a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and actions that is not susceptible to change over time or by the situation. In contrast, dispositional mindfulness is considered a surface characteristic, that is, a trait that emerges later and is less stable than the core traits and can be cultivated and strengthened through various interventions, such as training programs [ 27 ]. Empirical research evidence seems to be consistent with this view.…”