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.
About the RI Life Index
The slides below offer a brief overview of the methods used for the RI Life Index, along with tips to enhance your viewing experience. Use the red arrows on the right and left to move through the slides.
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.

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.


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


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


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;


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


Perceptions of Community
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
DEFINITION
How do residents rate access to affordable, quality housing?
TOPICS: Cost of housing; availability of affordable housing


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


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


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


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


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


Actual Experiences
ECONOMIC
SITUATION
DEFINITION
How do residents rate their current financial situation?
TOPICS: Personal economic and financial situation; money in savings


Special Topics
Here you will see findings from this year’s special topics, reported as percentages rather than POP scores.
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)

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?

Acknowledgements
The RI Life Index, a partnership between Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and the Brown University School of Public Health, would not have been possible without the collaboration of the following people and organizations: Melissa Clark, PhD, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Director of the Survey Research Center, Brown University School of Public Health, who served as Principal Investigator of the project, overseeing survey design and execution, and offering expert guidance along the way; Michelle Rogers, PhD, Assistant Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Associate Director of the Survey Research Center, Brown University School of Public Health, who completed all of the data analysis; Tamara Sequeira, RN, MSN, Project Manager, Survey Research Center, Brown University School of Public Health, for her invaluable assistance with the community-based organization interviews; Don Levy, PhD, Meghann Crawford and all the interviewers and technical staff of the Siena College Research Institute for the data collection; staff of Dorcas International, Progreso Latino, Higher Ground International, and the Center for Southeast Asians for conducting community-based interviews; and the more than 2500 Rhode Islanders who answered the call by taking the survey, providing this invaluable data to benefit all of our communities as we work to create health equity in Rhode Island.
We also thank the following leaders:
Martha L. Wofford, MBA, President & CEO, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Christina H. Paxson, PhD, President, Brown University
Ronald Aubert, PHD, Interim Dean, Brown University School of Public Health
Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, FACEP, Academic Dean, Brown University School of Public Health
Social Mission Committee of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Board of Directors
RI Life Index Coalition Membership
Melissa Clark, PhD, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Director of the Survey Research Center, Brown University School of Public Health
Christopher Ausura, Rhode Island Department of Health
Angela Bannerman Ankoma, Rhode Island Foundation
Marcela Betancur, Latino Policy Institute
Adama Hathaway Brown, United Way of Rhode Island
Carolyn Belisle, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Carrie Bridges Feliz, Lifespan Community Health Institute
Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Rhode Island Kids Count
Brenda Clement, HousingWorksRI
Weayonnoh Nelson Davies, Economic Progress Institute
Rachel Flum, Economic Progress Institute
Jeff Gilbert, Medical Legal Partnership Boston
Michele Lederberg, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Katie Murray, Rhode Island Foundation
Andrew Schiff, Rhode Island Community Food Bank
Tina Spears, Community Provider Network of Rhode Island
Catherine Taylor, AARP
Communication Support
Jasmine Arnold, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Melanie Coon, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Sasha Dolgicer, Brown University Division of Advancement
Rebekah McKinney, Brown University Division of Advancement
Karen Scanlan, Brown University School of Public Health
Mark Sheldon, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island