Driving performance in the digital nomad era: the mediating roles of well-being and job satisfaction

Purpose Despite the growing academic focus on digital nomadism, there is a lack of studies on the job performance of digital nomads, which compounds an essential theoretical and empirical gap. Informed by this, the study explores the role of nomadic work drivers in job performance, with well-being and job satisfaction acting as mediators, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the job performance of digital nomads. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a quantitative approach, this study used an online survey disseminated to digital nomad Facebook groups, collecting data from 226 participants through systematic sampling. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The findings revealed that well-being and job satisfaction significantly mediate the relationships between nomadic work drivers (destination, technology and work preferences) and job performance. Conversely, the relationship between work-life balance and job performance through both mediators was found statistically insignificant. Practical implications The study contributes to the growing body of literature on digital nomadism, clarifying how work drivers influence job performance through well-being and job satisfaction, while offering practical insights to create supportive work environments that boost productivity, a priority in today's era of global remote work. Originality/value This research is unique to the extent that it explores the dual mediating effects of well-being and job satisfaction in the relationship between nomadic work drivers and job performance, an approach that has been significantly absent in previous studies.