Assessing the Relationship between Young Professionals' Perceptions of Cyber security and Their Online Shopping Behaviour on E-Commerce Platforms in Koronadal City, Philippines

Abstract

Purpose This study investigates the relationship between young professionals' perceptions of cyber security and their level of online shopping on e-commerce platforms in Koronadal City.

Study design/methodology/approach A descriptive-correlational research design was employed to assess the socio-economic profile, cyber security concerns, and personal risk mitigation practices of 68 young professionals. Data were collected using a structured survey instrument and analyzed through frequency distribution, weighted mean, standard deviation, and simple linear regression.

Findings The majority of respondents were aged 27 to 30, earned below PHP 10,000 monthly, and were primarily self-employed. Participants expressed high concerns regarding the security of personal and financial information, with data security being the highest concern (mean = 4.57). A significant inverse relationship was found between cybersecurity concerns and the level of e-commerce usage (β = -0.179, p = 0.046), indicating that greater concerns about cybersecurity led to lower online shopping frequency. Personal risk mitigation practices were moderate, with respondents frequently updating passwords and exercising caution with suspicious links, though the use of two-factor authentication remained inconsistent.

Originality/value This study provides empirical insights into how cybersecurity concerns influence online shopping behavior among young professionals. The findings emphasize the need for e-commerce platforms to enhance security measures and transparency to improve consumer confidence. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of targeted cybersecurity education to encourage safer and more frequent e-commerce engagement.