The mediating effect of anti-phishing self-efficacy between college students\' internet self-efficacy and anti-phishing behavior and gender difference

Abstract

This study investigates the mediating effect of college students\' anti-phishing self-efficacy between Internet self-efficacy and anti-phishing behavior. Also the gender effect on the researched variables are concerned. The participants in the study were 434 university students who had experience using the Internet. The Internet self-efficacy scale (translated and modified based on Kim & Glassman scale, 2013), the self-designed anti-phishing self-efficacy scale, and the self-designed anti-phishing behavior scale were used in this study. This study used convenience sampling to conduct the survey, which resulted in 411 valid responses. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling are adopted to test the mediation effect. The results showed statistically significant differences in anti-phishing behavior and anti-phishing self-efficacy between female and male university students. The SEM analysis showed that Internet self-efficacy is a positive precedent to anti-phishing behavior, and anti-phishing self-efficacy significantly mediated the relation between Internet self-efficacy and anti-phishing behavior. This study suggests that educators could use strategies to improve Internet self-efficacy and anti-phishing self-efficacy in order to enhance learners\' motivation and experience with anti-phishing. The Internet self-efficacy scale and the anti-phishing self-efficacy scale may be used as a reference for adaptive teaching materials. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.