The Impact of Students’ Cybersecurity Vulnerability Behavior on E-Learning Obstacles

Authors

  • Ibrahim Mohamed TAHA Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, Tanta, Egypt
  • Rajaa Hussein Abd ALI University of AL-Zahraa for Women/ College of Health and medical Techniques/ Radiological Technics Department, Kerbala, Iraq
  • Ali Abdulhassan ABBAS University of Kerbala, College of Administration and Economics, Department of Accounting, Kerbala, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0006

Abstract

Background/purpose: This study examines the relationship between students’ cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles. With the rapid growth of online education, ensuring the security and privacy of digital platforms has become crucial. In this background, the current study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to understand the relationship between these two variables in the background of higher educational institutions in Iraq.
Methods: For this study, the researchers collected data during 2023 from students aged between 19 and 25 enrolled in the University of Karbala, Iraq, using a semi-structured research questionnaire, who were selected through a random sampling method. The questionnaire comprised questions pertaining to the dimensions of both the dependent and the independent variable. A total of 350 valid responses were considered for the analysis in which PLS-SEM was conducted.
Results: The outcomes revealed that the professional and human obstacles have a high association with cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. The study also found that the overall obstacles have a significant effect on the cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. All hypotheses were verified and the outcomes confirm that there is an effective relationship between cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles
Conclusion: Based on the study outcomes, the authors proposed a few recommendations for all the stakeholders of the e-learning process, such as educational institutions, governments, faculty members, students, and their parents. Though the current study has been confined to a single university in Iraq, future researchers can focus on expanding the study to other higher educational institutions so that a nationwide policy-level initiative can be brought based on the research evidence.

Keywords: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Behavior, E-Learning Obstacles, Higher education, PLS-SEM, Student motivation, Learning behaviour

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Published

2025-02-21

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Papers