Toward a coping-dueling-fit theory of the ADHD-entrepreneurship relationship: Treatment's influence on business venturing, performance, and persistence

We examine the relationship between Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and entrepreneurship with a specific focus on the influence of treatment. To guide our analysis, we develop the Coping-Dueling-Fit (CDF) theory as an extension to the dueling symptoms and person-environment fit perspectives. The CDF posits that ADHD symptoms' fit with entrepreneurship can act as both an asset and liability, and that coping, which we operationalize as treatment, serves to moderate this relationship to the benefit of the individual. We test our hypotheses by drawing on unique data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and find that treatment moderates the relationships between ADHD and business venturing, performance, and persistence. A post-hoc analysis further explores nuances in the variety of ADHD including the influences of comorbidity with depression, treatment type, push and pull factors in entrepreneurial entry, as well as persistence in the face of negative performance. •We develop a Coping-Dueling-Fit (CDF) theory as a more comprehensive explanation of the ADHD-entrepreneurship relationship•The CDF extends dueling symptoms and person-environment fit theories and maintains ADHD can act as both asset and liability•Coping, operationalized as treatment, moderates the ADHD-entrepreneurship relationship to the benefit of the individual•Empirically, we find ADHD treatment is associated with reduced business venturing and persistence, but increased performance•We also explore the effects of depression, treatment type, and push-pull factors on the ADHD-entrepreneurship relationship