Bridging the Gap: How Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Shape Cybersecurity Awareness in Thai Education

Background/purpose. This study investigates how knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) influence cybersecurity awareness (CSA) among students in Thai educational institutions. The research addresses regional disparities in cybersecurity readiness by incorporating a culturally responsive adaptation of the KAP model. Materials/methods. A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting data from 230 students across Thai universities using stratified sampling. The study utilized t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analyses to evaluate CSA across demographic factors and digital domains. Results. Findings showed clear gender and age differences in CSA. Male students consistently outperformed their female counterparts in network security, malware detection, and encryption literacy. Younger students exhibited greater technical vigilance, whereas older students showed stronger practical habits. The KAP framework was a robust predictor of cybersecurity awareness, highlighting individual behavior patterns and systemic gaps in cybersecurity education. Conclusion. This research contributes a localized CSA model grounded in the KAP framework, offering three main contributions: (1) tailored recommendations for integrating gender- and age-specific training in cybersecurity curricula, (2) identification of cultural and contextual misalignments between global cybersecurity frameworks and Thai educational needs, and (3) practical strategies for mitigating awareness gaps through inclusive, skill-based interventions.