The pull into wakefulness: How sociocultural categories intersect to shape sleep opportunity and sleep ability in Israel

Objectives: Prior studies have documented the existence of sleep disparities between social groups and have proposed possible reasons for these gaps. To extend these empirical findings, the current study elucidates whether and how intersections between sociocultural identities shape the lived experience and management of sleep and sheds light on the social factors that explain within-group heterogeneity. Methods: This article draws on semi-structured interviews with 66 employed Israelis, aged 40-60, conducted between February 2020 and February 2022. Participants were selected using a non-probability purposeful sampling design that sought to include individuals with a wide range of sociodemographic backgrounds in terms of gender, ethnonationality, socioeconomic status, religion, and religiosity as well as the quality of sleep. Results: The analysis shows that intersections of gender, socioeconomic status, ethnonationality, religion, and religiosity prompt qualitatively different understandings, experiences, and management of sleep, in a way that affects both sleep opportunity and sleep ability. Conclusions: This study contributes to the scholarly understanding of the social determinants of sleep by highlighting the significance of the intersections of sociocultural identities for sleep health and implementing a nuanced socioecological approach to understanding within-group variability. The results call for the design of tailored interventions that consider the sociocultural context.