Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour
Known age differences exist in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use, attitudes, access, and literacy. Less is known about age differences in relation to cybersecurity risks and associated cybersecurity behaviours. Using an online survey, this study analyses data from 579 pa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/2693080 |
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| _version_ | 1832549056107249664 |
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| author | Dawn Branley-Bell Lynne Coventry Matt Dixon Adam Joinson Pam Briggs |
| author_facet | Dawn Branley-Bell Lynne Coventry Matt Dixon Adam Joinson Pam Briggs |
| author_sort | Dawn Branley-Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Known age differences exist in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use, attitudes, access, and literacy. Less is known about age differences in relation to cybersecurity risks and associated cybersecurity behaviours. Using an online survey, this study analyses data from 579 participants to investigate age differences across four key cybersecurity behaviours: device securement, password generation, proactive checking, and software updating. Significant age differences were found; however, this is not a straightforward relationship. Older users appear less likely to secure their devices compared to younger users; however, the reverse was found for the other behaviours, with older users appearing more likely to generate secure passwords and show proactive risk awareness and regularly install updates. Gender was not a significant predictor of security behaviour (although males scored higher for self-reported computer self-efficacy and general resilience). Self-efficacy was identified as a mediator between age and three of the cybersecurity behaviours (password generation, proactive checking, and updating). General resilience was also a significant mediator for device securement, password generation, and updating; however, resilience acted as a moderator for proactive checking. Implications of these findings are twofold: firstly, helping to guide the development of training and interventions tailored to different cybersecurity behaviours and secondly informing cybersecurity policy development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b1cafd6de1754d30b0cf68c9daa933c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2578-1863 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-b1cafd6de1754d30b0cf68c9daa933c02025-02-03T06:12:25ZengWileyHuman Behavior and Emerging Technologies2578-18632022-01-01202210.1155/2022/2693080Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity BehaviourDawn Branley-Bell0Lynne Coventry1Matt Dixon2Adam Joinson3Pam Briggs4Department of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologySchool of ManagementDepartment of PsychologyKnown age differences exist in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use, attitudes, access, and literacy. Less is known about age differences in relation to cybersecurity risks and associated cybersecurity behaviours. Using an online survey, this study analyses data from 579 participants to investigate age differences across four key cybersecurity behaviours: device securement, password generation, proactive checking, and software updating. Significant age differences were found; however, this is not a straightforward relationship. Older users appear less likely to secure their devices compared to younger users; however, the reverse was found for the other behaviours, with older users appearing more likely to generate secure passwords and show proactive risk awareness and regularly install updates. Gender was not a significant predictor of security behaviour (although males scored higher for self-reported computer self-efficacy and general resilience). Self-efficacy was identified as a mediator between age and three of the cybersecurity behaviours (password generation, proactive checking, and updating). General resilience was also a significant mediator for device securement, password generation, and updating; however, resilience acted as a moderator for proactive checking. Implications of these findings are twofold: firstly, helping to guide the development of training and interventions tailored to different cybersecurity behaviours and secondly informing cybersecurity policy development.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/2693080 |
| spellingShingle | Dawn Branley-Bell Lynne Coventry Matt Dixon Adam Joinson Pam Briggs Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies |
| title | Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour |
| title_full | Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour |
| title_short | Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour |
| title_sort | exploring age and gender differences in ict cybersecurity behaviour |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/2693080 |
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