Knowing Better, Doing Better: The Role Of Actual And Perceived Knowledge Of Self-Protective Behaviour On Protection Motivation

In an era characterised by increasing cyber threats, there is a pressing need to gain a deeper understanding of how to enhance digital resilience at the individual level. In this study, we compared the role of actual
knowledge with individuals’ perceived knowledge, and the influence on the intentions to engage in self-protective behaviour. Participants (N = 222) completed an online questionnaire, which included an actual knowledge test focusing on protection measures and items measuring constructs of Protection
Motivation Theory. Our regression analyses showed that actual knowledge is a predictor to engage in self-protective behaviour, with a stronger influence than perceived knowledge. Both actual and perceived knowledge are vital for self-protective behaviour, however, they activate different types of efficacy. Actual
knowledge is a stronger predictor of response efficacy, whereas perceived knowledge better predicts self-efficacy. We explored implications for intervention and future research in the discussion, by highlighting the need for prioritising knowledge dissemination, increasing user confidence, and the effectiveness of interventions. This paper is a substantial adaptation of a previous conference paper (Bluhm et al., 2025).