Abstract
purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the dimensions of the information security knowledge mechanism on The protection motivation, with psychological processes serving as a mediating factor, among employees of the National Iranian Drilling Company in Ahvaz. This research employed a descriptive-survey methodology. The statistical population consisted of all employees utilizing information systems within the company, totaling 3,200 individuals. A sample of 320 participants was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a 32-item questionnaire developed by Mady et al. (2023). The proposed model was tested using SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 26. Findings indicated that knowledge breadth significantly influenced threat appraisal. Furthermore, knowledge depth and knowledge finesse significantly affected coping appraisal. Both threat appraisal and coping appraisal had a significant impact on protection motivation.
Finally, the mediating roles of threat appraisal and coping appraisal in the relationship between knowledge breadth, depth, and finesse with protection motivation were confirmed. As a result, continuous information security training—centered on psychological processes such as threat appraisal and coping appraisal—should be implemented to align employees of the National Iranian Drilling Company with security goals. Managers and decision-makers are encouraged to enhance employees’ protection motivation by developing structured programs that strengthen their information security knowledge—namely, knowledge breadth, depth, and finesse.
keywords: Information security, Protection motivation, National Iranian Drilling Company, Depth of knowledge, Psychological processes, Subtlety of knowledge, Breadth of knowledge.