Risk Awareness, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support Predict Secure Smartphone Usage

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that non-compliance with smartphone security behaviors is widespread and may cause severe harm to people and devices. In addition to device-based security issues, there are psychological factors involved in these behaviors such as self-efficacy, risk awareness, and social support. The present study examines associations of these three factors with smartphone security behaviors and explores possible mechanisms among these variables. In a longitudinal survey with 192 Chinese college students (73.4% women, mean age 24.46 years, SD = 5.15), self-efficacy, risk awareness, and social support were assessed with psychometric scales at two points in time, 2 weeks apart. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed with follow-up smartphone security behaviors as the dependent variable, controlling for baseline values and demographic and IT-related covariates. Main effects of self-efficacy, risk awareness, and social support on smartphone security behaviors were identified. Moreover, a triple interaction among the three predictors emerged in a synergistic way, indicating that their combination yielded more favorable levels of secure smartphone use. The total model accounted for 50% of the behavioral variance, with all covariates included, and the triple interaction among self-efficacy, risk awareness, and social support accounted for 2.3% of variance. Results document that psychological factors are involved in smartphone security behaviors beyond demographic and IT-related covariates. Interventions could be designed to improve smartphone security behaviors not only by developing privacy-enhancing technologies but also by considering psychological factors such as self-efficacy, risk awareness, and social support.

The Relationship between Smartphone Addiction, Parent–Child Relationship, Loneliness and Self-Efficacy among Senior High School Students in Taiwan

“…Socialization and academic self-efficacy were important factors in smartphone addiction [63]. Studies showed that self-efficacy had an association with the problematic use of mobile devices [64] as it could affect the smartphone addiction [65,66]. In particular, academic self-efficacy was negatively related to smartphone addiction, and it could mitigate the effect of smartphones on academic procrastination [67].…”

Behavioural Insights Into Cybersecurity Practices Among Digital Banking Consumers in South Africa

“…Subjective norm refers to the extent to which digital banking consumers consider the opinions of others who are important to them and believe they must adopt the specific technology (Ajzen, 1991). Thus, more significant social influence is likely to increase an individual's intentions to change their behaviour toward cybersecurity (Butler, 2020& Zhou et al, 2020. Researchers typically measure SN by asking participants to what degree they believe their closest relationships, such as family, friends, or colleagues, would encourage them to prevent or reduce data breaches (Alanazi et al, 2022).…”

“…Self-efficacy refers to the user's belief in their ability to carry out the required actions to avoid potential threats. In cybersecurity, this usually leads to the person taking the necessary steps to implement the security safeguards (Verkijika, 2020;Zhou et al, 2020). So, when consumers are sure they have the skills to protect their cybersecurity, they are highly motivated.…”

Reconceptualizing cybersecurity awareness capability in the data-driven digital economy

“…Gandhi ( 2017 ) defined cybersecurity awareness as the degree to which an individual is aware of cybersecurity, its conformity with policies and its commitment to the mission of an entity. Zhou et al ( 2020 ) find empirical evidence that highlights the significant importance of psychological factors such as self-efficacy, risk awareness and social support to understand CSA in an individual, along with technical security embedded in a particular device or asset. Poepjes and Lane ( 2012 ) emphasize understanding how an individual acquires and manages awareness using individual capability when confronted with making a decision.…”