Influence of Age and Genders on the Relationship between Computer Self-Efficacy and Information Privacy Concerns

The Internet and the growth of Information Technology (IT) and their enhanced capabilities to collect personal information have given rise to many privacy issues. This study investigated the differences among different age groups and between genders regarding information privacy concerns and their relationships with computer self-efficacy. The study used a paper-based survey instrument and collected data by using the mall-intercept approach in which individuals were asked to fill out the survey. The target population of this study was the 400 residents of the state of New Jersey, U.S.A. in three age groups: 18-25, 26-50, and 50+. The results show that only male and age group of 26-50 have positive and significant relationship between computer self-efficacy and information privacy concerns. The findings of this study can help corporations to improve e-commerce by targeting privacy policy-making efforts to address the explicit areas of consumer privacy concern. DOI: 10.4018/jthi.2012010102 International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 8(1), 14-37, January-March 2012 15 Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. and various demographic factors (age, gender, income level, and education). Little published research exists that relates an individual’s computer self-efficacy with information privacy concerns. To date, there is only one study (White, Shah, Cook, & Mendez, 2008) which examined relationship between information privacy concern and computer self-efficacy. This research fills the gap in the academic literature by examining the influence of age and gender on the relationship between computer self-efficacy and information privacy concerns as the public’s, nonprofit, private sectors’, and governments’ interest in information privacy continued to grow. It added new knowledge by investigating the correlation differences between information privacy concerns and computer self-efficacy among different age groups and between genders. The results of this study can help corporations to improve e-commerce by targeting privacy protection tools to address the explicit areas of consumers’ privacy concerns. For researchers, this study addressed the relationships among the antecedents and consequences of information privacy concern and computer self-efficacy.