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ADHD-like behavior and entrepreneurial intentions

Author

Listed:
  • Ingrid Verheul
  • Joern Block
  • Katrin Burmeister-Lamp
  • Roy Thurik
  • Henning Tiemeier
  • Roxana Turturea

Abstract

Little is known about the relation between entrepreneurship and the extent of psychiatric symptoms. Validated psychiatric symptom scores are seldom used for non-clinical reasons. One prevalent symptom that deserves our interest is Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a developmental disorder characterized by inattentiveness and hyperactivity that has been linked to occupational choice and performance. Building on the person–environment fit literature, we hypothesize that individuals who exhibit behavior associated with ADHD are more likely to have entrepreneurial intentions. Using a sample of 10,104 students enrolled in higher education, we can confirm our prediction that students with a higher level of ADHD-like behavior are more likely to have entrepreneurial intentions. Additionally, we show that risk taking propensity is a mediator that partly explains this positive effect. Our study points to the importance of behavioral tendencies associated with developmental disorders, when making entrepreneurship decisions. Our study contributes to the literature on the determinants of entrepreneurship, which so far has largely neglected the effects of psychiatric symptoms on entrepreneurship. Copyright The Author(s) 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Ingrid Verheul & Joern Block & Katrin Burmeister-Lamp & Roy Thurik & Henning Tiemeier & Roxana Turturea, 2015. "ADHD-like behavior and entrepreneurial intentions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 85-101, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:45:y:2015:i:1:p:85-101
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-015-9642-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurial intentions; ADHD-like behavior; Risk propensity; Psychiatric symptoms; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM); J24; L26;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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