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ADHD Symptoms, Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), and Firm Performance

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  • Wei Yu
  • Johan Wiklund
  • Ana Pérez-Luño

Abstract

Recently, scholars have started to investigate the relationship between ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) symptoms and entrepreneurship, finding that ADHD symptoms positively impact entrepreneurial intention and action. However, the performance implications of ADHD symptoms are still unknown. Using two samples of entrepreneurs from the United States and Spain, we find evidence that impulsive and hyperactive symptoms of ADHD are largely conducive to firm performance through entrepreneurial orientation (EO) while inattention symptoms are not. This suggests that the performance advantages of entrepreneurs ADHD symptoms can be derived from greater focus on innovation, proactiveness, and risk-taking. We discuss the implications of our findings for the entrepreneurship literature.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:45:y:2021:i:1:p:92-117
    DOI: 10.1177/1042258719892987
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. James J. Chrisman & Hanqing C. Fang & Lloyd Steier, 2023. "Positioning, Articulating, and Crafting Conceptual Articles on Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(2), pages 211-231, March.
    3. A. Roy Thurik & David B. Audretsch & Jörn H. Block & Andrew Burke & Martin A. Carree & Marcus Dejardin & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Mark Sanders & Ute Stephan & Johan Wiklund, 2024. "The impact of entrepreneurship research on other academic fields," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 727-751, February.
    4. Dean A. Shepherd & Trenton A. Williams, 2023. "Does It Need to be Broader or Deeper? Trade-Offs in Entrepreneurship Theorizing," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1003-1030, July.
    5. Hunt, Richard A. & Lerner, Daniel A. & Johnson, Sheri L. & Badal, Sangeeta & Freeman, Michael A., 2022. "Cracks in the wall: Entrepreneurial action theory and the weakening presumption of intended rationality," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(3).
    6. Clark, Daniel R. & Crawford, G. Christopher & Pidduck, Robert J., 2023. "Exceptionality in entrepreneurship: Systematically investigating outlier outcomes," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    7. Daniel R. Clark & Robert J. Pidduck & G. T. Lumpkin & Jeffrey G. Covin, 2024. "Is It Okay to Study Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) at the Individual Level? Yes!," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 48(1), pages 349-391, January.
    8. Ute Stephan & Przemysław Zbierowski & Ana Pérez-Luño & Dominika Wach & Johan Wiklund & Marisleidy Alba Cabañas & Edgard Barki & Alexandre Benzari & Claudia Bernhard-Oettel & Janet A. Boekhorst & A, 2023. "Act or Wait-and-See? Adversity, Agility, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing across Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(3), pages 682-723, May.
    9. 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).
    10. Artamoshina, Polina & Shirokova, Galina & Osiyevskyy, Oleksiy & Bodolica, Virginia, 2023. "ADHD symptoms of CEOs and business model innovation in the SME context," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Tomasz Ingram & Katarzyna Bratnicka-Myśliwiec & Teresa Kraśnicka & Izabella Steinerowska-Streb, 2022. "Entrepreneurial Orientation as a Determinant of Sustainable Performance in Polish Family and Non-Family Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-25, December.
    12. Menzies, Jane & Chavan, Meena & Jack, Robert & Scarparo, Simona & Chirico, Francesco, 2024. "Australian indigenous female entrepreneurs: The role of adversity quotient," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    13. Galina Shirokova & Nailya Galieva & Joshua V. White & Diana Doktorova, 2024. "Narcissism, workaholism, family support and new venture performance: a moderated mediation model," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 379-419, June.
    14. 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.
    15. Kusi, Samuel Yaw & Nwoba, Arinze Christian & Adeola, Ogechi & Adedajo, Adedapo & Adjei, Osei Yaw, 2024. "Does entrepreneurial autonomy always drive emerging market SMEs internationalization? An effectual logic perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    16. Arslan, Ahmad & Kamara, Samppa & Tian, Anna Yumiao & Rodgers, Peter & Kontkanen, Minnie, 2024. "Marketing agility in underdog entrepreneurship: A qualitative assessment in post-conflict Sub-Saharan African context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    17. Yu, Wei & Stephan, Ute & Bao, Jia, 2023. "Childhood adversities: Mixed blessings for entrepreneurial entry," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(2).
    18. Muhammad Sualeh Khattak & Rizwan Ullah, 2021. "The role of entrepreneurial orientation in tangible and intangible resource acquisition and new venture growth," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(6), pages 1619-1637, September.

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