Understanding Information Privacy Concerns: A Meta-Analytic of Three Decades of Research

Substantial research has explored the antecedents and consequences of information privacy concerns. However, alternative theoretical frameworks and discrepancies in observed outcomes muddle our understanding of these relationships. We conduct a series of meta-analyses of the existing literature to resolve these inconsistencies and map the nomological network surrounding information privacy concerns. We collected data from 305 empirical papers, identifying 24 antecedents, 7 consequences, and 6 covariates that have been proposed as both antecedents and consequences. We evaluated the relationships between these variables and information privacy concerns and compared their effects along with several relevant moderators. Through our meta-analytic analyses, we determine the relative importance of critical antecedents, consequences, covariates, and moderators of information privacy concerns. Our insights clarify theoretical findings for researchers and offer guidance for managing information privacy practices.

History: Jason Thatcher, Senior Editor; Chuan-Hoo Tan, Associate Editor.

Funding: T. (J.) Luu acknowledges the support of the Dean’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2023.0797.