Job demands, identity, and outcomes: The mediating role of cynicism among Cybersecurity-focused employees

Abstract

With the rise in complex cyber threats, the demand for cybersecurity-focused employees has surged, highlighting a critical talent shortage. Cybersecurity-focused employees, often overworked, are susceptible to high stress and burnout, impairing an organization's cyberattack responsiveness. While studies have addressed burnout in the information systems profession, unique cybersecurity job characteristics demand further exploration. These jobs require constant vigilance and the repercussions of failure are potentially severe and may impact the organization, as well as individual careers. Consequently, we scrutinize the association of professional identity with cybersecurity-focused employee burnout. Specifically, in response to recent requests for deeper burnout investigation within the cybersecurity profession, we utilize Maslach's Burnout-informed research coupled with the job-demands-resources literature to examine cybersecurity-focused employee burnout, with an emphasis on cynicism. We explore the role of job characteristics, such as vigilance and sanction severity, along with the role of professional identity in cynicism, and its relationship to job performance, and intentions to leave the profession. Our cybersecurity-focused employee study reveals significant relationships and mediating effects, providing valuable insights for research and practice.