The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mobility worldwide. As a corollary, the health of top- and lower-level athletes alike is profoundly reliant on movement and exercise. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on athletes’ motivation to exercise and train. In detail, we aim to better understand who (i.e., demographic, sport-specific, and psychological state and trait variables) reported a change in motivation to train due to the lockdown, why they reported lower motivation (i.e., open-ended questions on problems), what they did to help themselves, what support they received from others, and what they are looking forward to after the lockdown (i.e., open questions). Questionnaire data and answers to these open-ended questions were assessed via an online questionnaire, completed by 95 amateur and recreational athletes during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany (April to mid-May 2020). Results show that greater numbers of female athletes are less motivated to train in comparison to male athletes (p = 0.029). No differences in motivation were found regarding type of sport (individual vs. team sport) and number of competitions during the year. Also, more motivated to train amateur and recreational athletes showed lower athletic identity than athletes who reported no change in motivation to exercise during the lockdown (p = 0.03). Additionally, differences in state emotional, perceived stress, and personality variables (i.e., orientation to happiness, volition) were found between athletes who stated that they were less motivated to train compared to athletes who reported no changes in motivation. In particular, closure of sports facilities and social distancing measures were perceived to be highly problematic. Even though athletes received emotional support, organized themselves via routines and schedules, and trained using online tools, they predominately stated that they wished that their coaches would have supported them more. Understanding the impacts of a pandemic-related lockdown on athletes’ motivation, athletes’ coping strategies, and their desired support will help better support them in future crises.

Abstract Increasingly, organizations and individuals rely upon technologies and networks more and more. Likewise, these environments are infested with more dangers, which could be avoided if computer users were to follow general security guidelines or procedures. Despite the ever-increasing threat, little research has addressed or explained why individuals purposefully engage in behaviors that make them more vulnerable to these threats, rather than avoiding or protecting themselves from such threats. Despite the advantage that could be afforded by understanding the motivations behind such behaviors, research addressing these behaviors is lacking or focused on very specific theoretical bases. This dissertation addresses this research gap by focusing on security-related behaviors that have yet to be addressed in this research stream, and by using novel theoretical perspectives that increase our insight into these types of behaviors. Four studies (n =  1,430) are tested and reported here that support the four behaviors and theoretical perspectives that are of focus in this dissertation. By considering additional theories, constructs, and theoretical perspectives, this dissertation provides several important contributions to security-related behaviors. The results of this study provide new insights into the motivations behind the purposeful enactment of behaviors that increase one’s vulnerability to technological threats and risks. / Tiivistelmä Organisaatiot ja ihmiset ovat yhä enenevissä määrin riippuvaisia teknologiasta ja tietoverkoista. Tällöin he myös kohtaavat entistä enemmän tietoturvariskejä, joita olisi mahdollista välttää noudattamalla tietoturvaohjeita ja -politiikkoja. Huolimatta näistä jatkuvasti yleistyvistä riskeistä, tähän mennessä ei juurikaan ole tehty tutkimusta, joka selittää ihmisten tietoista tietoturvaohjeiden ja -politiikkojen laiminlyöntiä, joka altistaa heidät tietoturvariskeille. Aikaisempi ihmisten tietoturvakäyttäytymisen syiden ymmärtämiseen keskittyvä tutkimus tarkastelee ilmiötä yksipuolisesti tiettyihin teoreettisiin lähtökohtiin nojautuen. Tämä väitöskirjatyö tarkastelee ihmisten tietoturvakäyttäytymisen syitä uudesta teoreettisesta näkökulmasta. Väitöskirja sisältää neljä tutkimusta (n = 1430), jotka tarkastelevat erityyppistä tietoturvakäyttäytymistä erilaisista teoreettisista lähtökohdista. Väitöskirja täydentää olemassa olevaa tietoturvakäyttäytymisen tutkimusta uusien teorioiden, käsitteiden ja teoreettisten näkökulmien avulla.