Date of Award

8-22-2025

Date Published

September 2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises

Advisor(s)

Johan Wiklund

Keywords

Entrepreneurship;Neurodiversity;P-E fit;Well-being

Abstract

This dissertation investigates how neurodiversity, specifically attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), relates to entrepreneurial behaviors and outcomes, with a specific attention to gender as a moderating factor. The first essay provides a comprehensive meta-analytic review of 44 empirical studies, synthesizing 261 effect sizes to assess the relationship between ADHD and different stages of the entrepreneurial process: attitudes, behaviors, and post-launch outcomes. Results reveal that hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms are positively associated with entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors but unrelated to post-launch outcomes, while inattention symptoms are negatively associated with outcomes. These findings offer evidence that ADHD’s impact is phase-specific and contingent. The second essay draws on the NLSY79 CYA dataset to examine how ADHD influences entrepreneurial entry, with intelligence and gender as moderators. Results show that men with ADHD and high intelligence are more likely to become entrepreneurs. This study suggests that the benefits of ADHD traits are not universal but depend on additional personal resources and sociocultural context. The third essay analyzes survey data from 1,256 entrepreneurs across the U.S., Australia, and Spain to examine how ADHD symptoms are associated with entrepreneurs’ subjective well-being. Findings show that higher ADHD symptoms are associated with increased team conflict, which in turn reduces well-being. This mediating effect is especially pronounced for women entrepreneurs, suggesting that gendered expectations amplify the interpersonal challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals. Together, these three essays contribute to neurodiversity and entrepreneurship literature and hold important practical implications for individuals with ADHD, their support networks, practitioners, and policymakers.

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Open Access

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