Relationship between work–life balance, psychological well-being, and job performance: Mediating and moderating effects of emotional intelligence: Ahead of Print

KDV Prasad; Debanjan Nag

doi:10.31211/rpics.2026.12.1.410

Authors

KDV Prasad Deemed University, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad; Symbiosis International, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9921-476X
Debanjan Nag Deemed University, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad; Symbiosis International, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4793-0980

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2026.12.1.410

Keywords:

Emotional intelligence, Information technology employees, Job performance, Psychological well-being, Work–life balance

Abstract

Background: Work–life balance, emotional intelligence, and psychological well-being have each been linked to employee functioning, yet these associations are often examined in partial rather than integrated models, particularly in knowledge-intensive occupational settings. Objective: This study examined the associations among work–life balance, emotional intelligence, selected dimensions of psychological well-being, and job performance among IT employees, and tested the mediating and moderating roles of emotional intelligence in the work–life balance–job performance association. Method: Survey data from 389 IT employees in and around Hyderabad were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modelling. Results: Work–life balance and emotional intelligence were positively associated with adaptive, task, and contextual performance. Positive relations were also positively associated with all three performance dimensions, whereas autonomy and environmental mastery were not significantly associated with job performance. Emotional intelligence showed significant indirect effects in the association between work–life balance and each performance dimension, consistent with partial mediation. The interaction between work–life balance and emotional intelligence was also significant across outcomes, indicating moderation. Conclusions: The findings support a model in which emotional intelligence is involved in the association between work–life balance and job performance as a direct correlate of performance and as a mediating and moderating factor. These results highlight the relevance of work–life balance and emotional intelligence for understanding employee performance in knowledge-intensive occupational contexts.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aguinis, H., Boik, R. J., & Pierce, C. A. (2001). A generalized solution for approximating the power to detect effects of categorical moderator variables using multiple regression. Organizational Research Methods, 4(4), 291–323. https://doi.org/d9sm9c

Aguinis, H., Edwards, J. R., & Bradley, K. J. (2017). Improving our understanding of moderation and mediation in strategic management research. Organizational Research Methods, 20(4), 665–685. https://doi.org/gbz8ch

Ahmadi, S. A. A., Azar, H. K., Sarchoghaei, M. N., & Nagahi, M. (2014). Relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological well-being. International Journal of Research in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, 2(1), 123–144. bit.ly/4rRvb0m

Aiken, L. S., & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Sage.

Allen, T. D., Herst, D. E., Bruck, C. S., & Sutton, M. (2000). Consequences associated with work-to-family conflict: A review and agenda for future research. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 5(2), 278–308. https://doi.org/c2zfkd

Andersson, U., Cuervo-Cazurra, A., & Nielsen, B. B. (2020). Explaining interaction effects within and across levels of analysis. In L. Eden, B. B. Nielsen, & A. Verbeke (Eds.), Research methods in international business (pp. 331–349). Palgrave Macmillan. https://bit.ly/4bFVwIN

Anwar, J., & Sarfraz, M. (2023). The impact of psychological capital and subjective well-being on the relationship of job insecurity and job performance. International Journal of Business Science & Applied Management, 18(2), 35–52. https://doi.org/qwmr

Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indices in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238–246. https://doi.org/qwmr

Borman, W.C., & Motowidlo, S.J. (1993). Expanding the criterion domain to include elements of contextual performance. In N. Schmitt & W. Borman (Eds), Personnel selection in organizations (pp. 71–98). Jossey-Bass.

Brough, P., O’Driscoll, M., & Kalliath, T. (2007). Work-family conflict and facilitation: Achieving work-family balance. In A. I. Glendon, B. M. Thompson, & B. Myors (Eds.), Advances in organisational psychology (pp. 73–92). Australian Academic Press.

Brough, P., Timms, C., O'Driscoll, M. P., Kalliath, T., Siu, O. L., Sit, C., & Lo, D. (2014). Work–life balance: A longitudinal evaluation of a new measure across Australia and New Zealand workers. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(19), 2724–2744. https://doi.org/ghm7xt

Byrne, U. (2005). Work-life balance: Why are we talking about it at all? Business Information Review, 22(1), 53–59. https://doi.org/fn6q9r

Cao, J., Huang, Y., Shao, X., & Zhong, Y. (2024). Driving innovation: Exploring the effect of distributed leadership on collective teacher innovativeness in Chinese schools. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 34(1), 433–446. https://doi.org/qwms

Carlson, D. S., Kacmar, K. M., & Williams, L. J. (2000). Construction and initial validation of a multidimensional measure of work–family conflict. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56(2), 249–276. https://doi.org/cs7z39

Cherniss, C., Extein, M., Goleman, D., & Weissberg, R. P. (2006). Emotional intelligence: What does the research truly indicate? Educational Psychologist, 41(4), 239–245. https://doi.org/cr7b3h

Chin, W. W., Peterson, R. A., & Brown, S. P. (2008). Structural equation modeling in marketing: Some practical reminders. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 16(4), 287–298. https://doi.org/dgssx4

Cochran, W.G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L. S. (2013). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Colten, H. R., & Altevogt, B. M. (Eds.). (2006). Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation: An unmet public health problem. National Academies Press.

David, R., Singh, S., Mikkilineni, S., & Ribeiro, N. (2024). A positive psychological approach for improving the well-being and performance of employees. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 73(9), 2883–2900. https://doi.org/qwmt

Dawson, J. F. (2014). Moderation in management research: What, why, when and how. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/sjv

dos Santos, P. M., & Cirillo, M. Â. (2023). Construction of the average variance extracted index for construct validation in structural equation models with adaptive regressions. Communications in Statistics-Simulation and Computation, 52(4), 1639–1650. https://doi.org/qwmv

Edwards, J. R., & Rothbard, N. P. (1999). Work and family stress and well-being: An examination of person-environment fit in the work and family domains. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 77(2), 85–129. https://doi.org/dpqh26

Fateh, A., Mustamil, N., & Shahzad, F. (2021). Role of authentic leadership and personal mastery in predicting employee creative behavior: A self-determination perspective. Frontiers of Business Research in China, 15, Article 16. https://doi.org/dpqh26

Francis, R. S., & Milton, T. (2024). Emotional intelligence among female hotel employees and their impact in job performance. International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 13(3), 331–349. https://doi.org/qwmw

Frazier, P. A., Tix, A. P., & Barron, K. E. (2004). Testing moderator and mediator effects in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(1), 115–134. https://doi.org/bdzm2r

Frone, M. R., Russell, M., & Cooper, M. L. (1992). Antecedents and outcomes of work-family conflict: Testing a model of the work-family interface. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/cvs66w

Greenglass, E. R. (2000). Work, family and psychological functioning: Conflict or synergy. In P. Dewe, M. Leiter, & T. Cox (Eds.), Coping, health and organizations (pp. 87–108). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/qwmx

Greenhaus, J. H., & Beutell, N. J. (1985). Sources of conflict between work and family roles. Academy of Management Review, 10(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/dv7jp2

Grzywacz, J. G., & Bass, B. L. (2003). Work, family, and mental health: Testing different models of work‐family fit. Journal of Marriage and Family, 65(1), 248–261. https://doi.org/cqtj8f

Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet. Journal of Marketing theory and Practice, 19(2), 139– 151. https://doi.org/dxph3f

Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2013). Partial least squares structural equation modeling: Rigorous applications, better results and higher acceptance. Long Range Planning, 46(1–2), 1–12. https://doi.org/gfzczh

Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (2nd ed.). Guilford Press

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43, 115–135. https://doi.org/bbg4

Hesketh, B., & Neal, A. (1999). Technology and performance. In D. R. Ilgen & E. D. Pulakos (Eds.), The changing nature of performance: Implications for staffing, motivation, and development (pp. 21–55). Jossey-Bass. bit.ly/4uMAfFV

Hijuzaman, O., Akbar, M. A., & Herdiyanto, R. (2023, October). Analysis of the effect of intellectual intelligence, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence and organizational commitment on employee performance with structural equation modeling method. In AIP Conference Proceedings (2734(1), 120005). AIP Publishing. https://doi.org/qwmz

Isa, M., & Indrayati, N. (2023). The role of work–life balance as mediation of the effect of work–family conflict on employee performance. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 21, Article a1910. https://doi.org/qwm2

Jordan, P. J., Ashkanasy, N. M., & Hartel, C. E. (2002). Emotional intelligence as a moderator of emotional and behavioral reactions to job insecurity. Academy of Management Review, 27(3), 361–372. https://doi.org/bt5hvs

Kalliath, T., & Brough, P. (2008). Work–life balance: A Review of the Meaning of the Balance Construct. Journal of Management & Organization, 14(3), 323–327. https://doi.org/fjwp8s

Kanwar, Y. P. S., Singh, A. K., & Kodwani, A. D. (2019). Work–life balance and burnout as predictors of job satisfaction in the IT-ITES industry. VISION—The Journal of Business Perspective, 13(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/fmrpnt

Kara, E. & M.H. Çetinel. (2023). Determining the intermediate role of psychological well-being and staff empowerment in the relationship between management support and employee performance. Sosyoekonomi, 31(56), 109–128. https://doi.org/qwm3

Keaten, J., & Kelly, L. (2008). Emotional intelligence as a mediator of family communication patterns and reticence. Communication Reports, 21(2), 104–116. https://doi.org/gmgqbb

Koubova, V., & Buchko, A. A. (2013). Life‐work balance: Emotional intelligence as a crucial component of achieving both personal life and work performance. Management Research Review, 36(7), 700–719. https://doi.org/qwm4

Laulié, L., Briceño-Jiménez, G., & Henríquez-Gómez, G. (2023). Exploring self-regulation theory as a mechanism of the effects of psychological contract fulfillment: The role of emotional intelligence. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1090094. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1090094

Linley, P. A., Maltby, J., Wood, A. M., Osborne, G., & Hurling, R. (2009). Measuring happiness: The higher order factor structure of subjective and psychological well-being measures. Personality and Individual Differences, 47(8), 878–884. https://doi.org/c8bknk

Lyons, J. B., & Schneider, T. R. (2005). The influence of emotional intelligence on performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 39(4), 693–703. https://doi.org/bfxt3x

Major, V. S., Klein, K. J., & Ehrhart, M. G. (2002). Work time, work interference with family, and psychological distress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(3), 427–436. https://doi.org/bfmnv8

Malinauskas, R., & Malinauskiene, V. (2020). The relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological well-being among male university students: The mediating role of perceived social support and perceived stress. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), Article 1605. https://doi.org/gsc7t9

Motowidlo, S.J., Borman, W.C., & Schmit, M.J. (1997). A theory of individual differences in task and contextual performance. Human Performance, 10(1), 71–83. https://doi.org/dhdjqj

Mulyadi, M., Sitiari, N.W., Meryawan, I.W., Saputri, L.G.E.A. (2024). The role of workload, work life balance and psychological toward employee performance through work stress as mediation. Quality – Access to Success, 25(200), 143–152. https://doi.org/qwm5

Nag, D., Prasad, K., De, T., & Patnaik, S. (2023). Emotional intelligence and its association with PWB: an empirical study concerning B-school students in and around Hyderabad Metro. Revista de Gestão e Secretariado, 14(6), 10460–10478. https://doi.org/qwm6

Nika, F. A., & Bashir, I. (2023). Impact of psychological well-being on employee performance and productivity. Productivity, 63(4), 417–427. https://doi.org/qwm7

Noor, N. M. (2004). Work-family conflict, work-and family-role salience, and women's well-being. The Journal of Social Psychology, 144(4), 389–406. https://doi.org/bg78tm

Odujo-Saka, K. A., Olaleye, B. R., Sarpong, E., Ibrahim, A., & Adedokun, J. O. (2023). The influence of workplace bullying on the performance of hotel employees: The mediating role of emotional intelligence and psychological resilience. Tourism & Management Studies, 19(3), 59–71. https://bit.ly/4cZMskg

Park, S. J., & Yi, Y. (2023). Assessing differences between simple slopes in simple slopes analysis. Journal of Business Research, 168, Article 114204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114204

Pattnaik, S. C., & Sahoo, R. (2021). Employee engagement, creativity and task performance: Role of perceived workplace autonomy. South Asian Journal of Business Studies, 10(2), 227–241. https://bit.ly/4c09CGc

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/czw

Pradhan, R. K., & Jena, L. K. (2017). Employee performance at workplace: Conceptual model and empirical validation. Business Perspectives and Research, 5(1), 69–85. https://doi.org/gg6t6k

Prasad, K. D. V., Sripathi, K., Vaidya, R., Aghav, S., & Ved, S. (2024). Effect of organizational citizenship behavior on PWB: Mediating and moderating effects of emotional intelligence: An empirical study of it-enabled industry employees in Hyderabad. Humanities and Social Science Letters, 12(3), 481–500. https://doi.org/qwm8

Rajesh, M. (2019). Impact of emotional intelligence on job performance in the IT industry. Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, 6(4), 605–616. https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1904Q95.pdf

Roopavathi, S., & Kishore, K. (2021). The impact of work life balance on employee performance. Journal of Interdisciplinary Cycle Research, 12(10), 31–37. https://bit.ly/4emtB3k

Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/dvp4hb

Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 719–727. https://doi.org/bsnq6p

Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal Of Happiness Studies, 9, 13–39. https://doi.org/b7jb72

Ryff, C. D., Almeida, D. M., Ayanian, J. S., Carr, D. S., Cleary, P. D., Coe, C., Davidson, R. J., Krueger, R. F., Lachman, M. E., Marks, N. F., Mroczek, D. K., Seeman, T. E., Seltzer, M. M., Singer, B. H., Sloan, R. P., Tun, P. A., Weinstein, M., & Williams, D. R. (2007). National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), 2004–2006: Documentation of the psychosocial constructs and composite variables in MIDUS II Project 1. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. https://bit.ly/425n1qA

Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional Intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185–211. https://doi.org/d7s8wh

Sanchez-Gomez, M., & Breso, E. (2020). In pursuit of work performance: Testing the contribution of emotional intelligence and burnout. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(15), Article 5373. https://doi.org/gj88pf

Sanz-García, A., Ros-Martínez, A., López-Navas, A., & Puig-Cabrera, M. (2024). Psychometrics of emotional intelligence in hospitality: A cross-sectional study on human capital and quality of service. Tourism and Hospitality, 5(1), 237–250. https://doi.org/m4xj

Serafim, A., Veloso, C. M., Rivera-Navarro, J., & Sousa, B. (2024). Emotional intelligence and internal marketing as determinants of job satisfaction and satisfaction with life among Portuguese professionals. Sustainability, 16(5), Article 1932. https://doi.org/m4xk

Shevlin, M., & Miles, J. N. (1998). Effects of sample size, model specification and factor loadings on the GFI in confirmatory factor analysis. Personality and Individual differences, 25(1), 85–90. https://doi.org/dgc4hr

Srivastava, K., Joshi, S., Raichaudhuri, A., Ryali, V. S. S. R., Bhat, P. S., Shashikumar, R., Prakash, J., & Basannar, D. (2011). Emotional Intelligence Scale for medical students. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 20(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/gftw9q

Stephens, M. A. P., Townsend, A. L., Martire, L. M., & Druley, J. A. (2001). Balancing parent care with other roles: Interrole conflict of adult daughter caregivers. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56(1), P24–P34. https://doi.org/d4gwc4

Sun, G., & Lyu, B. (2022). Relationship between emotional intelligence and self-efficacy among college students: The mediating role of coping styles. Discover Psychology, 2(1), Article 42. https://doi.org/qwnb

Tentama, F., Dewi, L., & Meilani, E. R. (2020). The role of work discipline and autonomy on employee performance: A case of private university in Indonesia. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 9(1), 4152–4157. https://bit.ly/4dBBLVo

Tucker, L. R., & Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 38(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/bcz7k9

Udayar, S., Fiori, M., & Bausseron, E. (2020). Emotional intelligence and performance in a stressful task: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Personality and Individual Differences, 156, Article 109790. https://doi.org/ggf3kr

Udin, U., Sukirno, R. L. S., & Dananjoyo, R. (2023). The Impact of work–life balance on employee performance: Examining the mediating-moderating role of job satisfaction and affective commitment. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 17(3), 74–85. https://doi.org/qwnc

Vasumathi, A., & Sagaya, M. T. (2017). The impact of emotional intelligence on work life balance: An empirical study among the faculty members' performance in the private universities at Tamil Nadu, India. International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 27(3), 293–323. https://doi.org/gtxbxr

Viete, S., & Erdsiek, D. (2020). Mobile information technologies and firm performance: The role of employee autonomy. Information Economics and Policy, 51, Article 100863. https://doi.org/ggx3nw

Voydanoff, P. (2005). The effects of community demands, resources, and strategies on the nature and consequences of the work‐family interface: An agenda for future research. Family Relations, 54(5), 583–595. https://doi.org/fjz7zg

Wang, Z., Jiang, Z., & Blackman, A. (2024). Why and when do emotionally intelligent employees perform safely? The roles of thriving at work and career adaptability. Applied Psychology, 73(2), 723–747. https://doi.org/gtrv5k

Wiradendi Wolor, C. (2020). The importance of work-life balance on employee performance millennial generation in Indonesia. Journal of Critical Reviews,7(9), 1103–1108. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3717417

Wolf, E. J., Harrington, K. M., Clark, S. L., & Miller, M. W. (2013). Sample size requirements for structural equation models: An evaluation of power, bias, and solution propriety. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 73(6), 913–934. https://doi.org/gckfqg

Zhang, H. L., Liu, F., & Lang, H. J. (2024). The relationship between role ambiguity and anxiety in intensive care unit nurses: The mediating role of emotional intelligence. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 81, Article 103597. https://doi.org/gthd8d