International Journal of Economics, Accounting, and Management
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): IJEAM - September 2025

Work Stress And Competence As Direct Predictors of Employee Performance: Work-Life Balance Does Not Mediate The Relationships

Amita Yuniaten (Universitas Sriwijaya)
Zunaidah Zunaidah (Universitas Sriwijaya)
Muhammad Ichsan Hadjri (Universitas Sriwijaya)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study examines the effects of work stress and competence on employee performance and tests whether work-life balance mediates these relationships among employees of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUPR) of Palembang City. Using a quantitative associative design, data were collected from 180 of 358 employees through a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analyzed with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS. The results show that work stress has a negative and significant effect on employee performance, whereas competence has a positive and significant effect. Competence also has a positive and significant effect on work-life balance, while work stress does not significantly affect work-life balance. Work-life balance does not have a significant direct effect on employee performance. The indirect effects of work stress and competence on employee performance through work-life balance are also not significant at the 5% level. These findings indicate that employee performance is more directly associated with managing work stress and strengthening competence than with work-life balance as a mediating mechanism

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijeam

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

International Journal of Economics, Accounting, and Management (IJEAM) is a semi-annual academic journal that publishes every six months. This journal presents the latest research and thinking in the fields of economics, accounting, and management. With its broad focus, the journal serves as an ...