PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Nearly 90 percent of NYC transit workers have been harassed or assaulted

Study of pandemic-era transit issues reveals attacks against public-facing workforce, with women experiencing higher rates of assault and intimidation

2024-08-21
(Press-News.org) The COVID-19 pandemic brought an increase in crime to New York City’s subways and buses. The transit system’s employees—especially female workers—have frequently been on the receiving end of attacks, according to a new study published in the Journal of Urban Health.

The study, led by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health, found that 89 percent of public-facing transit workers in New York City experienced harassment or violence on the job during the pandemic (2020-2023).

“Transit workers are our city’s unsung heroes—they kept New York City functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it came at a cost to these frontline workers,” said Robyn Gershon, clinical professor of epidemiology at the NYU School of Global Public Health and the study’s senior author. “They not only experienced high rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and even death, but throughout the pandemic they have experienced very high rates of victimization. We hope that providing evidence of the harassment and violence that workers face can lead to better data on transit worker safety and improved policies protecting this vital workforce.”

Since the start of the pandemic, frequent news reports have shed light on the violence against New York’s subway and bus workers, but there is little data on the rates at which these incidents occur. Moreover, while crime on the subways has substantially decreased this year—due to efforts by the state, city, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)—attacks against bus drivers and subway workers persist.

Since 2020, Gershon and her research team have been collaborating with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 to study the impact of COVID-19 among New York City’s transit workers. As part of this research, Gershon and her colleagues surveyed 1,297 public-facing New York City bus and subway workers in late 2023 and early 2024 about their work experiences during the pandemic.

Given the spike in crime on mass transit during this period, they asked workers whether they had dealt with harassment or violence on the job. Specifically, workers were surveyed about their experiences with verbal harassment or intimidation (e.g., offensive language, insults, threats), physical assault (e.g., punching, hitting, spitting, pushing), sexual assault (e.g., groping), sexual harassment (e.g., catcalling), or having something stolen from them.

Nearly nine in 10 transit workers—89 percent—reported experiencing some form of victimization on the job. Almost half of all workers surveyed reported verbal harassment or intimidation (48.7 percent) or physical assault (48.6 percent). One in five (20.6 percent) had experienced theft, while 6.3 percent reported sexual assault or harassment.

“The proportion of public-facing transit workers who have experienced violence or harassment is remarkably high, and far exceeds the rates of attacks against other workers. For example, health care workers are often subject to similar threats of violence, but by comparison, 58 percent of this workforce reports experiencing it,” said Gershon.

Notably, female transit workers experienced a higher prevalence of physical assault, intimidation, and sexual assault or harassment than did their male counterparts. Physical assault was more frequently reported by female bus workers, while sexual assault or harassment was more often reported by female subway workers.

“Our findings point to the need for greater attention to recording and reporting victimization against workers in both buses and subways,” said David Vlahov, professor at the Yale School of Nursing and the study’s first author. “We need to better understand the frequency and risk factors related to this violence and harassment, especially for female workers.”

The researchers note that the survey results may be influenced by volunteer bias—meaning those who have experienced harassment or assault may have been more likely to complete the survey—which could have led to a higher rate of incidents than would be found across the overall transit workforce.

In addition, the survey captured workers’ experience during the pandemic, when rates of violence on New York City’s mass transit were higher than they currently are. In response to the increased crime, the state, city, and MTA took steps to improve safety and support the workforce, including increasing the police presence, deploying the National Guard to support bag checks, tougher criminal charges for those who assault workers, and adding cameras focused on conductor cabins on subways to protect workers. In addition to advocating for safer work conditions for its members, TWU Local 100 introduced relaxation and yoga classes in an effort to support the mental health of workers.

“Despite important strides being made to protect the health and safety of this vital workforce, much more work remains to ensure the safest possible workplace for these dedicated and essential workers,” said Gershon.

In addition to Gershon and Vlahov, study authors include Daniel Hagen, Michael Cziner, and Alexis Merdjanoff of the NYU School of Global Public Health, as well as Martin Sherman of Loyola University. The research was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (R01NR020174).

END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

COVID-19 and mental illnesses in vaccinated and unvaccinated people

2024-08-21
About The Study: In this cohort study, depression, serious mental illness, general anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, addiction, self-harm, and suicide were elevated during weeks 1 through 4 after COVID-19 diagnosis compared with before or without COVID-19. Incidence was lower in people who were vaccinated when they had COVID-19 and incidence was higher, and persisted longer, after hospitalization for COVID-19. The findings support recommendation of COVID-19 vaccination in the general population and ...

New heaviest exotic antimatter nucleus

New heaviest exotic antimatter nucleus
2024-08-21
UPTON, N.Y. — Scientists studying the tracks of particles streaming from six billion collisions of atomic nuclei at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) — an “atom smasher” that recreates the conditions of the early universe — have discovered a new kind of antimatter nucleus, the heaviest ever detected. Composed of four antimatter particles — an antiproton, two antineutrons, and one antihyperon — these exotic antinuclei are known as antihyperhydrogen-4. Members of RHIC’s STAR Collaboration made the discovery by using their house-sized particle detector ...

Virtual learning in kindergarten through grade 12 during the COVID-19 pandemic and chronic absenteeism

2024-08-21
About The Study: Chronic absenteeism rates were substantially higher in school districts that used virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with in person in this cross-sectional study. Understanding how to reduce chronic absenteeism and use virtual learning without potentially negative consequences are key policy questions moving forward.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, William N. Evans, PhD, email wevans1@nd.edu. To access the embargoed study: ...

Self-repairing mitochondria use novel recycling system, study finds

Self-repairing mitochondria use novel recycling system, study finds
2024-08-21
Mitochondria, the so-called “powerhouse of the cell,” depend on a newly discovered recycling mechanism identified by scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).  Mitochondria are tiny structures inside of cells that carry out a wide range of critical functions, including generating energy to help keep cells healthy. Every mitochondrion has two layers of membranes: the outer membrane and the inner membrane. On the inner membrane, folds called cristae contain proteins and molecules needed for energy production. ...

Mobile species are ‘glue’ which connect different habitats together, study finds

Mobile species are ‘glue’ which connect different habitats together, study finds
2024-08-21
A groundbreaking study conducted across 30 field sites in the southwest UK has revealed the importance of incorporating varied habitats into the landscape at large. The research, published today in Nature and led by ecologists at the University of Bristol, addresses critical questions in conservation and land management, shedding new light on species interactions and how food chains operate across multiple habitats. The study found significant differences in food web structures among landscapes with one, two, or three habitats, including a more evenly distributed abundance of species. Multi-habitat landscapes host a higher number ...

Physicists discover heaviest antimatter hypernucleus to date

Physicists discover heaviest antimatter hypernucleus to date
2024-08-21
Physicists from the STAR Collaboration have observed a new antimatter hypernucleus, antihyperhydrogen-4, for the first time. This is the heaviest antimatter hypernucleus discovered in experiments to date. This study, led by researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published in Nature on Aug. 21. Current physics assumes that the properties of matter and antimatter are symmetrical and that equal amounts of matter and antimatter existed at the birth of the universe. However, some mysterious physical mechanism caused the annihilation of most matter and antimatter, with only about one in ten billion matter particles ...

Pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders: pathophysiology, diagnosis and management

2024-08-21
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs), also known as disorders of gut-brain interaction, encompass a wide range of conditions that cannot be attributed to structural, biochemical, or organic abnormalities. These disorders vary significantly from infancy to adulthood, with distinct manifestations in neonates/toddlers and children/adolescents. The ROME criteria, updated periodically, currently in use is ROME IV, which facilitates early and accurate diagnosis of FGIDs. Despite their prevalence, pediatric FGIDs pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to children's inability to articulate symptoms and the influence ...

Gluten is a proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity

Gluten is a proinflammatory inducer of autoimmunity
2024-08-21
The interaction between humans and their environment, mediated by nutrition, plays a crucial role in regulating inflammatory responses. Chronic inflammatory diseases have been on the rise, and the scientific community has been actively exploring pro-inflammatory nutrients as potential therapeutic targets. Gluten, a major component of wheat, barley, and rye, has been implicated in numerous health issues, particularly celiac disease (CD). This review essay summarizes the key findings of a recent study published in the Journal of Translational Gastroenterology, focusing on the proinflammatory effects of gluten and its implications in autoimmunity. Gluten and ...

Eyes in the sky and on the ground: enhanced dryland monitoring with remote sensing

Eyes in the sky and on the ground: enhanced dryland monitoring with remote sensing
2024-08-21
While animals in drylands hone their natural senses to find vegetation, humans have developed “external eyes” to track these vital resources.   Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have created an advanced method that integrates high-frequency near-surface camera data with broader satellite imagery to better monitor and assess dryland ecosystems. Their approach could aid in taking timely action to prevent land degradation, contributing to improved environmental management and conservation strategies.   Their results were published in the Journal of Remote Sensing on July 8.   Drylands, including ...

New Data: MedPearl clinical decision platform improves specialty referrals, boosts productivity, and reduces clinician time spent in the EMR

2024-08-21
Data published today in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst reported that MedPearl, a Providence-developed clinician-built clinical decision platform, improves primary care clinician productivity, decreases time waste on administrative tasks and improves the quality of referrals sent to specialists. The paper details operational outcomes from MedPearl’s use among more than 4,000 active monthly clinician users and shows statistically significant improvement in total productivity, after-hours time spent in the EMR and incremental margin per referral ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Reality check: making indoor smartphone-based augmented reality work

Overthinking what you said? It’s your ‘lizard brain’ talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain

Black men — including transit workers — are targets for aggression on public transportation, study shows

Troubling spike in severe pregnancy-related complications for all ages in Illinois

Alcohol use identified by UTHealth Houston researchers as most common predictor of escalated cannabis vaping among youths in Texas

Need a landing pad for helicopter parenting? Frame tasks as learning

New MUSC Hollings Cancer Center research shows how Golgi stress affects T-cells' tumor-fighting ability

#16to365: New resources for year-round activism to end gender-based violence and strengthen bodily autonomy for all

Earliest fish-trapping facility in Central America discovered in Maya lowlands

São Paulo to host School on Disordered Systems

New insights into sleep uncover key mechanisms related to cognitive function

USC announces strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs to accelerate drug discovery

Detroit health professionals urge the community to act and address the dangers of antimicrobial resistance

3D-printing advance mitigates three defects simultaneously for failure-free metal parts 

Ancient hot water on Mars points to habitable past: Curtin study

In Patagonia, more snow could protect glaciers from melt — but only if we curb greenhouse gas emissions soon

Simplicity is key to understanding and achieving goals

Caste differentiation in ants

Nutrition that aligns with guidelines during pregnancy may be associated with better infant growth outcomes, NIH study finds

New technology points to unexpected uses for snoRNA

Racial and ethnic variation in survival in early-onset colorectal cancer

Disparities by race and urbanicity in online health care facility reviews

Exploring factors affecting workers' acquisition of exercise habits using machine learning approaches

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor for ultra-low hydrogen detection

Maintaining bridge safer; Digital sensing-based monitoring system

A novel approach for the composition design of high-entropy fluorite oxides with low thermal conductivity

A groundbreaking new approach to treating chronic abdominal pain

ECOG-ACRIN appoints seven researchers to scientific committee leadership positions

New model of neuronal circuit provides insight on eye movement

Cooking up a breakthrough: Penn engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies

[Press-News.org] Nearly 90 percent of NYC transit workers have been harassed or assaulted
Study of pandemic-era transit issues reveals attacks against public-facing workforce, with women experiencing higher rates of assault and intimidation