Am I depleting from work or life? A nexus among work–life balance, self-efficacy, emotional exhaustion and performance

Purpose Based on the cognitive perspective of self-regulation theory and role balance theory, this study examines the moderating effects of self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion on the indirect path between impaired work–life balance and job performance through psychological depletion. Design/methodology/approach This conceptualized model was tested through a four-wave dyad data obtained from the employees and their supervisors of services sector organizations selected through stratified random sampling. Findings The results specify that psychological depletion partially mediates between impaired work–life balance and job performance. Further, self-efficacy acts as a buffering function to reduce the harmful effects of adverse impaired work–life balance on psychological depletion and emotional exhaustion provokes the injurious effects of psychological depletion on job performance. Research limitations/implications This research provides important theoretical implications for work–life balance and psychological domains with boundary-spanning roles of self-regulatory measures. Originality/value This research is a unique attempt to link the self-regulatory perspective with role balance theory to understand and buffer the issues of impaired work–life balance.