Gender Difference on Students’ Email Security Behaviors

This research aims to understand the gender difference on the email security perceptions and behaviors of undergraduate students at one midwestern public, master’s granting university by surveying students in an introductory computing course about their email security behavior. The survey questions are developed based on the Health Belief Model including behavior, perceived barriers to practice, self-efficacy, cues to action, prior security experience, perceived vulnerability, perceived benefits, and perceived severity. We found evidence of gender differences in self-efficacy and perceived benefits responses; and in the determinants of security behavior (model fit). This study provides a foundation upon which further investigation into gender differences in security behaviors can be based. Suggestions for explanations and implications for researchers and educators are discussed