RI Life Index; Presented in partnership: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Brown School of Public Health

Health is more than healthcare

Health is so much more than what happens within the healthcare system. We know health outcomes do not rest solely on medical interventions, but also greatly depend on meeting basic human needs.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) and the Brown University School of Public Health are proud to present the fourth annual RI Life Index, which captures Rhode Islanders’ perceptions of social determinants of health and well-being. For BCBSRI, the Index serves as a driver of our mission to create access to high quality care for all Rhode Islanders. We believe the Index will help us to build healthier communities throughout Rhode Island. This is our long-term commitment. We must continue to listen, learn and act.

View our 2022 Launch Event

2022 RDD Scores

Change to CBO Data

Key Findings

In 2022 we can report on trends based on four years of collected data. In keeping with the goal of measuring certain social determinants of health year over year, we annually ask the same core group of questions that speak to quality of life and quality of community. Below you’ll see the complete list of questions that comprise the “index” of quality of life and quality of community. We use these questions to measure progress.

In 2022, perceptions trended down in several areas. For example, the RI Life Index, which is comprised of topics including access to affordable housing, childcare and activities for youth, quality education, affordable and nutritious food, good jobs, medical care, programs for seniors, transportation services, feeling safe at home, and cost of living, trended down for most Rhode Islanders. The same held true for access to nutritious food and food security as well as cost of living and economic situation, which is not surprising given recent inflationary concerns. On a more positive note, perceptions of the availability of programs and services for children held steady from 2021 and improved from 2020.

RI Life Index

We show here a composite score of essential drivers of health and well-being as defined for the RI Life Index. The topic areas comprising the composite score focus on community life and quality of community elements, including affordable housing, quality education and good jobs. For all core measures, we first display the scores from the random digit dial (RDD) survey conducted from April through June of 2022. As you click deeper, you can explore trends, as well as scores from interviews conducted by community-based organizations.

2022
RI LIFE INDEX

Topics include access to affordable housing, childcare and activities for youth, quality education, affordable and nutritious food, good jobs, medical care, programs for seniors, transportation services, feeling safe at home, and cost of living.

RI Life Index: 59; Chart breakdown: Core City: 55 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 61 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Summary: Perceptions of Community

The report begins at the widest point of the lens, with summaries of perceptions of community that incorporate a range of social determinants of health, and quickly moves into a breakdown of those key factors. For all core measures, we first display the scores from the random digit dial (RDD) survey conducted from April through June of 2022. As you click deeper, you can explore trends, as well as scores from interviews conducted by community-based organizations.

Perceptions of Community
QUALITY OF COMMUNITY

DEFINITION
Quality of community scoring represents a summary of how residents rate social and economic aspects of their community, including the following topics:

  • Access to childcare
  • Activities for youth
  • Employment
  • Access to affordable food
  • Cost of living
  • Availability and quality of services and programs for seniors

QUESTION WORDING: For each statement, tell me if that statement is completely descriptive, somewhat descriptive, not very descriptive, or not descriptive at all of your community.

Quality of Community: 54
Chart breakdown: Core City: 50 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 55 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
COMMUNITY LIFE

DEFINITION
Community life scoring represents a summary of how residents perceive the lived experiences of typical individuals in their community, in the following areas:

  • Employment
  • Education
  • Convenient locations for nutritious food
  • Access to affordable housing
  • Access to healthcare
  • Feeling safe at home

QUESTION WORDING: For each statement, please tell me how likely each is for a typical person living in your community: very likely; somewhat likely; somewhat unlikely; and very unlikely

Community Life: 67
Chart breakdown: Core City: 61 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 69 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community: Vulnerable Residents

Here we show perceptions of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents. For all core measures, we first display the scores from the random digit dial (RDD) survey conducted from April through June of 2022. As you click deeper, you can explore trends, as well as scores from interviews conducted by community-based organizations.

Perceptions of Community
CHILDREN

DEFINITION
How do residents rate programs and services available for children?

TOPICS: Place to raise children; access to quality education; activities for youth

Children: 72
Chart breakdown: Core City: 63 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 76 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
OLDER ADULTS

DEFINITION
How do residents rate the availability of services in their community for older adults?

TOPICS: Availability of special transportation services; availability of social and civic programs; quality of healthcare services;

Older Adults: 66
Chart breakdown: Core City: 64 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 66 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community: Social Determinants of Health

Here we show perceptions of specific social determinants of health. For all core measures, we first display the scores from the random digit dial (RDD) survey conducted from April through June of 2022. As you click deeper, you can explore trends, as well as scores from interviews conducted by community-based organizations.

Perceptions of Community
ACCESS TO
NUTRITIOUS FOOD

DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to affordable, nutritious food?

TOPICS: Access to nutritious affordable food; convenience of location of nutritious food

Access to Nutritious Food: 69
Chart breakdown: Core City: 64 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 71 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING

DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to affordable, quality housing?

TOPICS: Cost of housing; availability of affordable housing

Affordable Housing: 33
Chart breakdown: Core City: 33 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 33 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
COST OF LIVING

DEFINITION
How do residents rate the cost of living in their community?

TOPICS: Affordable, high-quality childcare; cost of quality housing; difficulty paying for utilities

Cost of Living: 26
Chart breakdown: Core City: 23 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 27 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
JOB
OPPORTUNITIES

DEFINITION
How do residents rate job opportunities and job training programs?

TOPICS: Availability of jobs; employment with living wage; access to adult education

Job Opportunities: 55
Chart breakdown: Core City: 51 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 57 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Perceptions of Community
HEALTHCARE ACCESS

DEFINITION
How do residents rate their ability to access healthcare?

TOPICS: Access to routine medical care; access to mental health or substance abuse treatment

Healthcare Access: 69
Chart breakdown: Core City: 66 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 70 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Actual Experiences

Here we show data on the actual experiences of respondents with regard to their economic situation, food security, access to technology, and racial equity. For all core measures, we first display the scores from the random digit dial (RDD) survey conducted from April through June of 2022. As you click deeper, you can explore trends, as well as scores from interviews conducted by community-based organizations.

Actual Experiences
RACIAL EQUITY

DEFINITION
How do residents rate racial equity at work, when seeking healthcare, and in personal interactions?

TOPICS: Treatment at work; experiences seeking healthcare; unfair treatment; fear for personal safety

Racial Equity: 73
Chart breakdown: Core City: 69 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 75 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Actual Experiences
FOOD SECURITY

DEFINITION
How do residents rate their level of food security?

TOPICS: Worries about having enough food; financial ability to buy food

Food Security: 80
Chart breakdown: Core City: 73 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 84 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Actual Experiences
ECONOMIC
SITUATION

DEFINITION
How do residents rate their current financial situation?

TOPICS: Personal economic and financial situation; money in savings

Economic Situation: 58
Chart breakdown: Core City: 52 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55) Non-Core: 61 (broken down by Latinx, Black, and White ages less than and over 55)

Special Topics

Here you will see findings from this year’s special topics, reported as percentages rather than POP scores. These questions were only asked for the RDD survey.

CONFIDENCE IN MANAGING HEALTH
PROBLEMS

DEFINITION
Thinking about your health, how confident are you that you can manage any health problems you have? (Percent responding Somewhat or Very Confident)

Managing Health Problems: 87% (broken down by 40% somewhat and 47% very); Core City: 83% (broken down by 36% somewhat and 47% very); None-Core: 89% (broken down by 42% somewhat and 47% very)

CONFIDENCE IN
USING TECHNOLOGY

DEFINITION
Overall, how confident do you feel using computers, smartphones,
or other electronic devices to do the things you need to do online?

Using Technology: 81% (broken down by 25% somewhat and 56% very); Core City: 80% (broken down by 21% somewhat and 60% very); None-Core: 82% (broken down by 27% somewhat and 55% very)

Characteristics of the RDD Sample

Seventy percent of respondents lived in non-core areas; 30% resided in core cities. Approximately one in four (23%) respondents reported living alone; 33% lived in households with at least one child under the age of 18. Fifty percent of survey participants identified as female, 46% identified as male, and the remainder did not identify a gender. Approximately half (51%) were aged 18 to 49. Thirty-two percent reported having a high school education or less. Of those who reported their income, 47% had a household income of less than $50,000. Seventy-one percent identified as non-Hispanic white, 84% identified as heterosexual/straight, and 31% indicated they were living in a household in which at least one person had a disability.

 

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