Thriving or Struggling? The Differential Effects of ADHD on Entrepreneurial Success Through Resilience and Social Support

Abstract

Although entrepreneurs with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are overrepresented in entrepreneurial careers, the link between ADHD and entrepreneurial success (ES) remains contested. Drawing on person–environment (PE) fit theory, we disentangle the effects of ADHD’s two core symptom dimensions, inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, on ES, integrating entrepreneurial resilience as a mediator and social support as a moderator. Using survey data from entrepreneurs in the United States and the United Kingdom, we find that inattention negatively predicts both resilience and ES, with resilience partially mediating this relationship. By contrast, hyperactivity/impulsivity positively predicts resilience but has no significant direct effect on ES; its indirect effect through resilience is positive and important. Social support attenuates the negative influence of inattention on ES and dampens the positive indirect effect of hyperactivity/impulsivity via resilience. These findings reconcile contradictory results in prior ADHD–entrepreneurship research by demonstrating that ADHD is not a uniform predictor of performance; its impact depends on which symptom dimension dominates and how personal tendencies interact with environmental resources. The study advances theoretical understanding of cognitive diversity in entrepreneurship and offers practical guidance on tailoring support mechanisms to enhance the performance and sustainability of entrepreneurs with distinct ADHD profiles.