Job demands-resources (JD-R) theory

The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory entry includes sections that define the theory, explore developments in the theory, demonstrate specific application of the theory to HRM, and provide suggested topic areas for future research. JD-R Theory is a theory of balance. This balance occurs between aspects of a person’s job that require physical and psychological effort (i.e., job demands) and aspects of the job that help people achieve work goals, mitigate demands, or lead to employees’ growth and development (i.e., job resources) (; ). Accordingly, specific processes emerge from an imbalance between job demands and resources: when demands are high and resources are low, an impairment process leading to strain emerges; when resources are high and demands are low, a motivation process leading to engagement emerges. In turn, the resulting process leads to important individual and work-related outcomes (e.g., well-being and job performance).