The Mediating Role of Security Anxiety in Internet Threat Avoidance Behavior

Authors

• Xuan Wang, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
• Yaojie Li, University of New Orleans
• Hanieh Javadi Khasraghi, University of Delaware
• Cherie Trumbach, University of New Orleans

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2023

Abstract

In the prior technology threat avoidance literature, inconsistent results are found in examining the relationships between individuals’ perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived threat, as well as the intention to avoid security threats. One possible explanation for this paradox is lacking consideration of the role of individuals’ negative emotions while facing threats, which is rarely studied before. Therefore, the current study aims to extend the landscape of technology threat avoidance theory by exploring the role of security anxiety in individuals’ responses to security threats from the Internet. Our results demonstrate that Internet users’ risk aversion is strongly influenced by their perception of security threats, response efficacy, and security self-efficacy within the online environment. Also, our results indicate that individuals’ security anxiety can partially mediate the relationship between perceived threat and Internet threat avoidance behavior.

Comments

The final published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2023.103429

Recommended Citation

Wang, X., Li, Y., Khasraghi, H.J. and Trumbach, C., 2023. The mediating role of security anxiety in internet threat avoidance behavior. Computers & Security, 134, p.103429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2023.103429

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Computers & Security

DOI

10.1016/j.cose.2023.103429