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Entrepreneurship and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a large-scale study involving the clinical condition of ADHD

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel A. Lerner

    (Deusto Business School
    Universidad del Desarrollo)

  • Ingrid Verheul

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

  • Roy Thurik

    (Erasmus University Rotterdam
    Montpellier Business School (Labex Entrepreneurship)
    Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute for Behavior and Biology (EURIBEB))

Abstract

A growing conversation has emerged linking ostensibly dark or pathological individual-level characteristics to entrepreneurship. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the most central and emblematic. Recent studies have made great strides—articulating the theoretical relevance of ADHD-type behavior in entrepreneurship and suggesting a positive link consistent with narratives in the popular press. However, quantitative studies have yet to empirically examine ADHD in line with its theoretical roots and definition—as a clinical disorder. The present paper contributes by providing a theoretically–empirically aligned test of the connection between the condition of ADHD and entrepreneurial intention and action. Based on a large-scale data collection effort (N = 9869) and cross-sectional methodology, the results find a positive connection between clinical ADHD and entrepreneurial intentions as well as entrepreneurial action. This grounds prior research on ADHD and entrepreneurship, indicating that individuals with ADHD are indeed more likely to not just espouse entrepreneurial intentions, but also to initiate business venturing. Considering the design, it suggests a self-selection toward entrepreneurship in individuals with ADHD (before potentially being a choice of last resort).

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel A. Lerner & Ingrid Verheul & Roy Thurik, 2019. "Entrepreneurship and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a large-scale study involving the clinical condition of ADHD," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 381-392, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:53:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s11187-018-0061-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-018-0061-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Patel, Pankaj C. & Rietveld, Cornelius A., 2020. "The impact of financial insecurity on the self-employed’s short-term psychological distress: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    2. Pankaj C. Patel & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Ingrid Verheul, 2021. "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Earnings in Later-Life Self-Employment," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(1), pages 43-63, January.
    3. Daniel A. Lerner & Lars Alkærsig & Markus A. Fitza & Carina Lomberg & Stefanie K. Johnson, 2021. "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Parasite Infection is Associated with Entrepreneurial Initiation, Engagement, and Performance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(1), pages 118-144, January.
    4. Saiyed, Abrar Ali & Wierenga, Marleen & Fernhaber, Stephanie A. & Nummela, Niina, 2023. "From grassroots to international markets: A qualitative study of marginalized entrepreneurs in India," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    5. Yu, Wei & Zhu, Fei & Foo, Maw Der & Wiklund, Johan, 2022. "What does not kill you makes you stronger: Entrepreneurs’ childhood adversity, resilience, and career success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 40-55.
    6. Wim Van Lent & Richard A. Hunt & Daniel A. Lerner, 2023. "Historiography and the excavation of nascent business venturing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 285-303, June.
    7. Tucker, Reginald & Zuo, Lu & Marino, Louis D. & Lowman, Graham H. & Sleptsov, Alexander, 2021. "ADHD and entrepreneurship: Beyond person-entrepreneurship fit," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 15(C).
    8. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2023. "Negative life events and entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    9. Shirokova, Galina & Shakina, Elena & Bacon-Gerasymenko, Violetta & Wales, William, 2022. "Entrepreneurial orientation as a mediator of ADHD – Performance relationship: A staged quasi-replication study," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    10. Cornelius A. Rietveld & Eric A.W. Slob & A. Roy Thurik, 2021. "A decade of research on the genetics of entrepreneurship: a review and view ahead," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1303-1317, October.
    11. Juhana Peltonen & Edvard Johansson & Joakim Wincent, 2020. "Does attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder medication reduce entrepreneurship?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(9), pages 1071-1077, September.
    12. Pia Arenius & Swee-Hoon Chuah & Bronwyn Coate & Robert Hoffmann, 2021. "The economic psychology of creating and venturing: a comparative behavioural portrait of artists and entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 721-737, August.
    13. Vörös, Zsófia & Lukovszki, Lívia, 2021. "The effects of subclinical ADHD symptomatology on the subjective financial, physical, and mental well-being of entrepreneurs and employees," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 15(C).
    14. Wei Yu & Johan Wiklund & Ana Pérez-Luño, 2021. "ADHD Symptoms, Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), and Firm Performance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(1), pages 92-117, January.
    15. Rajah, Nasir & Bamiatzi, Vassiliki & Williams, Nick, 2021. "How childhood ADHD-like symptoms predict selection into entrepreneurship and implications on entrepreneurial performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(3).
    16. Annelot Wismans & Katsuyuki Kamei & Roy Thurik & Olivier Torrès, 2021. "The link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and entrepreneurial orientation in Japanese business owners," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(4), pages 857-872, October.
    17. Isabella Hatak & Manling Chang & Rainer Harms & Johan Wiklund, 2021. "ADHD symptoms, entrepreneurial passion, and entrepreneurial performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1693-1713, December.
    18. Jarno Stappers & Petra Andries, 2022. "The role of distinct ADHD symptoms for pre-entry entrepreneurial behavior: when intentions do not translate into action," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(3), pages 1441-1457, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; ADHD; Nascent venturing; Entrepreneurial intentions; Entrepreneurial action; Entrepreneurship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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