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oai:figshare.com:article/32134237 2026-09-29T06:18:27Z category_35549 category_35651 category_35789 category_37043 category_37145 portal_1009 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Examining the Role of Self-Construal on Cybersecurity Attitudes and Perceptions of Vulnerability Tourjana Islam Supti (22466692) Khaled M. Khan (16888788) Ala Yankouskaya (11818580) Israa Abuelezz (17541834) Mahmoud Barhmagi (22466695) Aiman Erbad (14150589) Raian Ali (12066006) Information and computing sciences Cybersecurity and privacy Human-centred computing Psychology Social and personality psychology Cybersecurity attitudes perceptions of vulnerability cultural differences independent self-construal interdependent self-construal <p dir="ltr">This study examined the role of independent and interdependent self-construal in predicting cybersecurity behaviors and perceived vulnerability across two culturally distinct populations: the UK and Arab countries. 642 adults (314 from the UK and 328 from Arab countries) participated in the survey. Our findings provide novel perspectives into the relationship between self-construal and cybersecurity risk. Individuals with an interdependent self-construal reported feeling more vulnerable to scams and cyberattacks, broadening the understanding of perceived vulnerability beyond basic cultural distinctions. In the Arab sample, independent and interdependent self-construal were significant predictors of cybersecurity behaviors, whereas, in the UK sample, this was predominantly associated with independence. These results highlight the crucial role of the cultural context in shaping the influence of self-construal, challenging the traditional binary framework of individualism versus collectivism applied in cybersecurity research. Furthermore, security attitudes mediated the relationship between interdependent self-construal and vulnerability perceptions in the Arab sample. Still, no mediation was found in the case of independent self-construal across either group. Our findings suggest that self-construal operates differently across cultures, calling for a more nuanced understanding of its role in cybersecurity behaviors. Recognizing these varying self-construal dimensions can help shape more effective, culturally tailored strategies to enhance cybersecurity awareness and resilience in diverse populations.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Applied Security Research<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19361610.2025.2466000" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19361610.2025.2466000</a></p> 2025-03-13T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1080/19361610.2025.2466000 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Examining_the_Role_of_Self-Construal_on_Cybersecurity_Attitudes_and_Perceptions_of_Vulnerability/32134237 CC BY 4.0