Embodied Uncertainty: Socioeconomic Stress and Sleep Patterns among Older Adults Affected by a Major Earthquake

Abstract

Large-scale disasters generate prolonged socioeconomic uncertainty that may profoundly affect health in later life. While post-disaster sleep problems among older adults have been widely reported, far less is known about how ongoing socioeconomic stress becomes embodied in objectively measured sleep patterns. This exploratory study examines the relationship between socioeconomic uncertainty and sleep among older adults affected by a major earthquake. A mixed-methods design was employed. Ten disaster-affected older adults wore wrist-worn wearable devices continuously for approximately two weeks, providing objective data on sleep duration, sleep-stage distribution, and daily physical activity. Semi-structured interviews captured lived experiences of post-disaster living conditions, financial concerns, housing stability, and perceived uncertainty regarding future life prospects. The mean sleep duration was 5 hours and 11 minutes, with substantial inter-individual variability and frequent nocturnal awakenings. Interview data revealed persistent socioeconomic uncertainty related to housing stability, time-limited assistance, institutional ambiguity, and anticipated future instability. These findings suggest that sleep disturbance may function as an embodied indicator of chronic socioeconomic stress rather than a transient psychological response.