Exploration of the Social-Psychological factors associated with Drivers’ engagement in protective cybersecurity behaviors: A TPB-based perspective

Abstract

With the advancements in hardware and software technologies, connected vehicles (e.g., vehicles with connections to the internet) become increasingly prevalent and their owners face growing cybersecurity threats. Therefore, it is important to investigate the social and behavioral factors that are associated with drivers’ engagement in cybersecurity-related behaviors to develop effective solutions. To this end, this paper explores the socio-psychological factors (e.g., attitude, norms, and perceived behavioral control) influencing drivers’ engagement in several cybersecurity-related behaviors through an exploratory survey study, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Based on responses from 405 connected vehicle owners, a partial least squares structural equation model was constructed to examine the structural relationships between key predictors and self-reported engagement in cybersecurity-related behaviors. Results indicate that perceived behavioral control emerged as the strongest predictor, while attitude, descriptive norms, and injunctive norms also played significant roles, their influence varied across demographic groups. Interestingly, objective cybersecurity knowledge showed substantial inter-individual differences but was not directly linked to engagement. Findings from the current study offer valuable insights into behavioral mechanisms underlying cybersecurity practices in the context of connected vehicles, informing strategies to enhance protective measures for drivers against emerging cyber threats.