The Role of Distinct ADHD Symptoms for Entrepreneurial Behavior

Abstract

Recent academic work and popular press have been advocating that individuals with symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be particularly well equipped to conduct entrepreneurial activities. This study investigates the link between the two main symptoms of ADHD ? namely attention deficit and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms ? and entrepreneurial behavior. Integrating the person-environment fit literature and analysing a unique dataset of Flemish individuals, it demonstrates a positive link between hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and attention deficit symptoms on the one hand, and entrepreneurial intentions on the other hand. However, it also shows that, unlike hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, symptoms of inattentiveness hinder the transition of these intentions into actual entrepreneurial behavior. These results imply that the current discourse on ADHD in the entrepreneurship literature is overoptimistic and that a more careful interpretation is needed.