Better Attitudes toward Cybersecurity and Greater Self-Control Predict Lower Risky Online Behaviors among Nurses.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Cybersecurity Behavior
• Psychology

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing nurses' online behavior is crucial for patient data protection.
• Previous research highlights the link between attitudes and behavior, but the role of self-control is less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the moderating role of self-control in the relationship between attitudes toward cybersecurity and risky online behaviors.
• To identify protective factors for safer online practices among direct care nurses.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 260 direct care nurses in Saudi Arabia.
• Utilized self-reported questionnaires to gather data on attitudes, self-control, and online behaviors.
• Employed hierarchical multiple regression and simple slope analyses to test moderation effects.

Main Results:

• Positive attitudes towards cybersecurity and higher self-control were associated with reduced risky online behaviors.
• Self-control significantly moderated the attitude-behavior link: negative attitudes strongly predicted risky behaviors only when self-control was low.
• At high self-control levels, the influence of cybersecurity attitudes on risky behaviors diminished, indicating a protective effect.

Conclusions:

• Self-control acts as a crucial moderator, enhancing cybersecurity practices among nurses.
• Interventions aimed at improving self-control may be effective in mitigating risky online behaviors, even with less favorable attitudes.
• Findings underscore the importance of self-regulation in cybersecurity for healthcare professionals.