Participant Eligibility
This study is open to cybersecurity professionals who meet specific criteria. Review the requirements below to determine whether you qualify.
You must be currently employed in a dedicated cybersecurity role. The study includes individuals across diverse cybersecurity roles at various organizational levels and in varied technical functions. Contractors working in dedicated cybersecurity roles are also eligible. Individuals employed in adjacent IT roles without a dedicated cybersecurity focus are not eligible for this study.
You must be located in the Eastern United States. This geographic criterion ensures the study population reflects a defined regional context, supporting the specificity and interpretability of the research findings.
You must have ten years or fewer of professional cybersecurity experience. This threshold captures the early-to-mid-career span most represented in current cybersecurity workforce research, enabling meaningful examination of mindfulness and motivation dynamics during a formative period of professional development.
You must be at least 18 years of age to participate in this study and provide informed consent.
Common Questions
What counts as a "cybersecurity role"?
Any position where your primary responsibilities involve protecting information systems, networks, or data from threats. This includes individuals across diverse cybersecurity roles at various organizational levels and in varied technical functions. If cybersecurity is a secondary function of a broader IT role, you may not meet the inclusion criteria.
Does contract work qualify?
Yes. Contractors working in dedicated cybersecurity roles are eligible to participate.
I'm not in the Eastern United States — can I participate?
Unfortunately, no. This study is limited to cybersecurity professionals located in the Eastern United States. This criterion ensures regional consistency in the research population.
How is cybersecurity experience calculated?
Experience is measured as the total time you have been employed in cybersecurity roles. If your cybersecurity experience totals ten years or fewer, you meet this criterion.
Why the ten-year experience threshold?
The ten-year window captures the early-to-mid-career span of cybersecurity professionals, enabling meaningful examination of mindfulness and motivation dynamics during a formative period of professional development.
If you meet all of the eligibility requirements above, your participation would be a valuable contribution to understanding mindfulness and motivation in the cybersecurity profession.