A Systematic Literature Review Examining the Relationship Between Work–Life Balance and Employee Performance, With A Focus on Psychological Mediators and Organizational and Digital Contextual Moderators in Contemporary Work Environments

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between work–life balance (WLB) and employee performance
through a systematic literature review approach. The review was conducted by examining scholarly publications
from various reputable databases using the PRISMA protocol and was analyzed through content analysis and
thematic synthesis. The synthesis results indicate that WLB positively influences employee performance both
directly and indirectly through psychological mechanisms, particularly employee well-being, work engagement,
and burnout. In addition, organizational support and work flexibility were found to strengthen this relationship,
while digital-era risk factors such as telepressure and hyper-connectivity have the potential to weaken it. This
study contributes to the development of a multidimensional conceptual framework of WLB by highlighting the
role of mediating and moderating variables, as well as enriching the understanding of digital well-being in the
context of modern work. Practical implications emphasize the importance of structured flexibility policies,
employee well-being interventions, and enhanced supervisor support in improving productivity and
performance sustainability. Recommendations are provided for further empirical research and the development
of HR policies that are adaptive to changes in digital and hybrid work patterns.