Mental Health
Factors associated with poor mental health outcomes among New York City transit workers Robyn Gershon* Daniel Hagen Michael Cziner Emily Goldmann David Vlahov Alexis Merdjanoff
Background: Transit workers were confronted with numerous stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to encounter heightened violence, yet little is known about the impact on mental health outcomes in this essential workforce.
Methods: Data were collected through a cross-sectional online survey from a convenience sample of N=1,381 bus and subway workers in New York City between December 2023 and January 2024. Socio-demographic characteristics, occupational exposure to violence, job satisfaction, self-rated health, COVID-19 experiences, and mental health outcomes (including the Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ]-4 and a single-item measure to assess sleep problems) were ascertained. Correlates of probable depression (PHQ-2 score>2) and/or probable anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD]-2 score>2), sleep problems, and self-reported worsened mental health compared to the start of the pandemic were examined using separate modified Poisson regression models.
Results: Approximately 34% of the sample met criteria for probable depression or anxiety; 11% reported trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much more than half the days in the prior 2 weeks; and 16% reported worse mental health than at the start of the pandemic. Adjusted for socio-demographic factors, poor mental health outcomes were most associated with experience of verbal harassment and sexual assault at work. For example, respondents who had been verbally harassed at work (34% of the sample) had 2.09 times the prevalence of probable depression or anxiety (95%CI=1.53;2.87) than those who had not. Other significant correlates included COVID-19-related hospitalization (PR=1.61; 95%CI=1.15;2.26) and having known someone who died from COVID-19 (PR=1.86; 95%CI=1.36;2.56).
Conclusion: Poor mental health outcomes are highly prevalent in this sample and may be driven by occupational exposure to violence, suggesting that targeted interventions and measures to increase worker safety are warranted.