Cognitive coping and social drivers of internet threat avoidance behaviour in Tanzania public sector employees

This study examines how cognitive, coping, and social-attitudinal factors determine internet threat avoidance behaviour among public sector employees in a rapidly digitalising low-income setting. We draw on Technology Threat Avoidance Theory (TTAT) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to model avoidance intention as a proximal predictor of avoidance behaviour. Cross-section survey data were collected from 558 Tanzania public servants across ministries, departments, and agencies and analysed using Partial Least Square – Structural Equation Modelling. The measurement model attained conventional reliability and validity limits, and the structural model explained 60.8% of the variance in avoidance intention and 33.4% in avoidance behaviour. Avoidance intention exhibited a large positive effect on avoidance behaviour, while all the antecedents of intentions showed significant but small effects. Our findings position at the centre empowerment, low-friction and socially embedded interventions for enhancing public sector cybersecurity in Tanzania and similar settings.