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Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour to predicting online safety behaviour

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Crime Prevention and Community Safety Aims and scope

Abstract

A widely promoted preventative measure against becoming a victim of cybercrime is the control of personal information online; however, little is known about what predicts the use of this type of protective safety behaviour. This study examines the utility of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in predicting online protective behaviours. Participants (N=150) completed measures of online privacy attitudes, normative influence, perceived behavioural control (PBC), intention to use and actual use of online protective behaviours. Path analysis indicated the effects of online privacy attitudes and normative beliefs on online protective safety behaviours were mediated through intention, while PBC had a significant direct effect on online protective safety behaviours. The model explained 81 per cent of the variance in protective online safety behaviours. The results of this study facilitate understanding of the psychological processes underlying the use of online protective behaviours, and can be used in the development of educational materials and cyber-identity theft prevention strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the significant contribution of the anonymous reviewers in the revision process of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, 6845, Western Australia

    Sarah Burns & Lynne Roberts

Authors
  1. Sarah Burns
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  2. Lynne Roberts
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Correspondence to Sarah Burns.

Appendix

Appendix

Perceived behavioural control items

Even if I want to, I don’t have the necessary confidence to protect my privacy online

Even if I want to, I don’t have the necessary ability to protect my privacy online

Even if I want to, I don’t have the necessary knowledge to protect my privacy online

Even if I want to, I don’t have the necessary resources to protect my privacy online

Subjective norms items

Most people that are important to me think that I should protect my online privacy

It is expected of me that I protect my online privacy

The people in my life whose opinions I value would approve of me protecting my online privacy

To the extent of my knowledge, most people who are important to me protect their online privacy

Many people like me protect their online privacy

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Burns, S., Roberts, L. Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour to predicting online safety behaviour. Crime Prev Community Saf 15, 48–64 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1057/cpcs.2012.13

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