Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Replication Note

Abstract

There is a small body of literature linking attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its symptoms to entrepreneurial manifestations. Some studies take a subclinical perspective by studying the presence of symptoms, while other studies take a clinical perspective by studying the formal diagnosis of ADHD. The entrepreneurial manifestations examined range from entrepreneurial intention to the choice to become self‐employed and from entrepreneurial orientation (EO) to entrepreneurial success. Despite its prominence in the entrepreneurship literature, to date only one study tested for a link with EO. The present study aims to replicate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and EO using a large data set of French small business owners. We do so by discriminating between the two dimensions of ADHD, namely attention‐deficit and hyperactivity, as well as the three dimensions of EO, namely innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk‐taking. We do not find a link between ADHD and EO, although we do find a positive link between ADHD and the risk‐taking subdimension of EO. Hyperactivity symptoms are positively related to EO, which is mainly driven by the subdimensions proactiveness and risk‐taking. We do not find a link between attention‐deficit symptoms and EO, though there is a negative link between attention‐deficit and proactiveness.

Impulsivity and entrepreneurial behaviour: Exploring an unreasoned pathway

“…8. Since our sample was slightly older than related impulsivity-entrepreneurship studies (Dimic and Orlov, 2014;Wismans et al, 2020) and consisted of experienced owner-managers, we conducted additional multi-group analyses on age and ownership duration using an extreme group approach (Preacher et al, 2005). Splitting groups into lower and upper quartiles (age <43 years and >59 years; ownership duration <7 years and >19 years) revealed no substantive differences from the original multi-group analyses, indicating the overall relevance of our model to these more extreme demographic variations.…”

“…Perhaps the most prominent development in this regard is emerging research linking attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to higher entrepreneurial intention (EI) (Verheul et al, 2015), entrepreneurial orientation (Wismans et al, 2020) and nascent venturing (Lerner et al, 2019;Stappers and Andries, 2021), where impulsivity appears to be the underlying trait driving these results (Antshel, 2018;Wiklund et al, 2017). Impulsivity is a multidimensional construct encompassing four distinct impulsigenic traits, which predispose individuals to impulsive behaviours (Whiteside and Lynam, 2001).…”

ADHD symptoms, entrepreneurial passion, and entrepreneurial performance

“…Entrepreneurs who do not premeditate are less likely to feel fear and worry (Whiteside and Lynam 2001) when facing an uncertain opportunity because they tend to overlook the negative consequences (Wiklund et al 2017). Because of their focus on the upside potential rather than the downside risk, entrepreneurs with ADHD symptoms are also more likely to proactively engage in risky projects that have uncertain outcomes or high profits and losses and are thereby critical to entrepreneurial performance (Wismans et al 2020).…”

Curiosity as a moderating variable between Impulsivity and Entrepreneurial Orientation

“…Some of the characteristics commonly associated with it are competitive aggressiveness, autonomy, capacity for innovation, proactivity and willingness to take risks (Aljanabi, 2018;Bolton, 2012;Fillis & Rentschler, 2010;Rauch et al, 2009; S. Robinson & Stubberud, 2014) Studying the relationship between Impulsivity and Entrepreneurial Orientation showed that sensation seeking and a lack of premeditation generally have a positive influence on entrepreneurship (Wiklund et al, 2017). These authors conclude that Impulsivity is positive for Entrepreneurial Orientation and that sensation seeking is related to curiosity and is intrinsic to motivation (Collins et al, 2004;Wismans et al, 2020;Zuckerman, 1994). Robinson (2008) indicates that entrepreneurs need to be curious, feel challenged and, consequently, adapt to change, which drives them to be seekers of new opportunities.…”