Executive function deficits mediate the relationship between employees’ ADHD and job burnout
Open accessAbstract
Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often face significant deficits in executive function and adverse work-related outcomes. This study aimed to explore the role of executive function deficits in job burnout of employees with ADHD. We hypothesized that employees with ADHD, relative to employees without ADHD, will experience higher levels of job burnout and deficits in executive function. We also hypothesized that the ADHD-job burnout relationship would be mediated through executive function deficits, specifically by self-management to time and self-organization/problem-solving. A field study with 171 employees provided support for the research hypotheses and mediation model in which the employees' ADHD-job burnout relationship was mediated through executive function deficits. Additional mediation analyses indicated that the specific executive function of self-management to time and self-organization/problem-solving mediated the effect of ADHD on job burnout and its facets. Specifically, for physical fatigue, the mediation was realized through self-management to time, and for emotional exhaustion and cognitive weariness, the mediation was significant through self-organization/problem-solving. The present findings shed light on the relevance of referring ADHD among employees, their vulnerability to job burnout, and the role of executive function deficits in job burnout of employees with ADHD.
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ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, procrastination, and difficulty meeting deadlines contribute to diminished productivity, increased job instability, and higher risk of unemployment in adults.
“Symptoms such as impulsivity, procrastination, and difficulty meeting deadlines contribute to diminished productivity, increased job instability, and a higher risk of unemployment.”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
The Introduction links adult ADHD to reduced job stability, unemployment, and challenges in work performance. Its executive-function section describes impulsive behavior and difficulty completing tasks by deadlines, but the paper does not identify procrastination or establish that these specific symptoms cause the listed employment outcomes. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEmployees with ADHD consistently receive lower productivity ratings, exhibit higher absenteeism, and demonstrate shorter job tenure.
“Employees with ADHD consistently receive lower productivity ratings, exhibit higher absenteeism, and demonstrate shorter job tenure [10,194].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
The Introduction (page unavailable) reports increased absenteeism, reduced job stability, and challenges in work performance among adults with ADHD. It does not establish lower productivity ratings or specifically shorter job tenure; those are more specific than the outcomes it describes. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredWorkplace studies show that impairments in time management and self-organization mediate the link between ADHD symptoms and job burnout, suggesting executive dysfunction operates as a proximal driver of occupational underperformance.
“These patterns are empirically supported: workplace studies show that impairments in time management and self-organization mediate the link between ADHD symptoms and job burnout, suggesting that executive dysfunction operates as a proximal driver of occupational underperformance [10,97,198].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
The Results (Mediation analysis; page unavailable) report significant indirect effects through self-management to time and self-organization/problem-solving on the ADHD–job-burnout relationship. The Introduction discusses workplace inefficiencies as a possible consequence of these deficits, but the reported mediation outcome is burnout, not occupational underperformance; the claim's broader performance inference is not empirically established by this study. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredExecutive dysfunction, particularly deficits in working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility, emerges as a central explanatory factor for occupational impairments in ADHD.
“Executive dysfunction, particularly deficits in working memory, planning, and cognitive flexibility, emerges as a central explanatory factor [10,196,197].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
The Introduction identifies working memory, shifting, and planning-related skills as facets of executive function that can affect work. The General discussion reports that executive-function deficits help explain the relationship between employees’ ADHD and job burnout, but identifies time management and self-organization/problem-solving—not working memory or cognitive flexibility—as the key mediators. The study’s demonstrated outcome is burnout, rather than occupational impairments broadly. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredEmotional impulsivity and low frustration tolerance can precipitate interpersonal conflict, while inattention may be misinterpreted as disinterest or irresponsibility.
“Emotional impulsivity and low frustration tolerance can precipitate interpersonal conflict, while inattention may be misinterpreted as disinterest or irresponsibility [10,97,198].”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [10]
The Introduction sections on executive-function deficits say that difficulties regulating emotions can adversely affect workplace relationships and conflict resolution. They also link short attention span to errors, but do not say that inattention is misinterpreted as disinterest or irresponsibility, or specifically identify low frustration tolerance as a cause of conflict. Page numbers were not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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Flagged first, then by citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives
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“These patterns are empirically supported: workplace studies show that impairments in time management and self-organization mediate the link between ADHD symptoms and job burnout, suggesting that executive dysfunction operates as a proximal driver of occupational underperformance [10,97,198].”
Influential
- Authors
- Turjeman-Levi, Y., Itzchakov, G., & Engel-Yeger, B.
- Affiliations
- Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, Department of Human Services, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Hushi Ave. Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- University of Haifa (IL)
- Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Hushi Ave. Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- ORCID
- Itzchakov, Guy
- Venue
- AIMS Public Health
- Published
- 2024
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 294-314
- ISSN
- 2327-8994 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11007411
- OpenAlex
- W4393904420
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 8.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- AIMS Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Workaholism, burnout, and well-being
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, executive dysfunction, burnout, workers, self-organization, problem solving, emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue, mediation, workplace mental health
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