Performance in virtual and hybrid teams: a systematic review using the job demands-resources model

Purpose This study aims to examine psychological, social and environmental factors shaping performance in virtual and hybrid teams. Framed through the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, the review identifies which demands hinder and which resources enhance team performance, clarifying how these elements interact in distributed work contexts. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of APA PsycInfo, Scopus, PubMed and YourJournals@Ovid, identified 49 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2011 and early 2025. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies were coded according to the JD-R framework, categorizing team-level constructs as demands, resources, or mediators/moderators across psychological, social and environmental domains. Findings The most frequently studied factors were social resources, particularly communication quality, knowledge sharing and trust, which accounted for over a third of studies, and were consistently linked to stronger performance. Psychological resources, including team emotional intelligence, were also associated with performance, though no single factor dominated. Demands including coordination strain, conflict and digital overload were examined less often but when unsupported, proved detrimental. Evidence showed resources and demands rarely operate in isolation: resources can buffer strain, yet when eroded, they amplify risks. Recent studies reflect post-pandemic complexity, emphasizing hybrid inequities, digital fatigue and the compensatory role of adaptive, context-sensitive leadership. Originality/value This review extends the JD-R model at the team level, integrating fragmented findings and highlighting how resources and demands function systemically across psychological, social and environmental domains. It advances theory by positioning performance as dependent on the ongoing recalibration of demands and resources, while offering practical insights for designing high-performing virtual and hybrid teams.