Empirical Study of Factors Affecting Cybersecurity Behaviour Among University Students in South South Nigeria

University students in South South Nigeria are major digital service users who face increasing cybersecurity threats including phishing, identity theft, and malware, yet the behavioural and motivational factors that shape their cybersecurity practices are empirically underexplored in the Nigerian context. This study empirically examines factors affecting cybersecurity behaviour among university students in Delta and Rivers States. A survey instrument drawing on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and Technology Threat Avoidance Theory (TTAT) was administered to 430 students at universities in Asaba and Port Harcourt. Structural equation modelling using SmartPLS 4 was used for hypothesis testing. Threat appraisal constructs (perceived threat severity, vulnerability), coping appraisal constructs (response efficacy, self-efficacy), and social influence were modelled as predictors of protective cybersecurity behavioural intention and actual protective behaviour. Results confirm that self-efficacy (beta = 0.44, p < 0.001) and social influence (beta = 0.31, p < 0.01) are the strongest predictors of protective behaviour. Fear appraisal showed unexpectedly low effects, possibly reflecting threat desensitisation among heavy social media users. The study fills a documented empirical gap in cybersecurity behaviour research for Nigerian student populations and provides evidence for designing effective cybersecurity awareness campaigns. Campus-based peer influencer-led cybersecurity education is recommended as the highest-impact intervention. Keywords: cybersecurity behaviour, university students, protection motivation theory, South South Nigeria, cybersecurity awareness