We investigated acculturative hassles in a community cohort of Vietnamese refugees in Norway (n = 61), exploring cross-sectional data and longitudinal predictors of acculturative hassles using data from their arrival in Norway in 1982 (T1), with follow up in 1985 (T2) and in 2005–2006 (T3). To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of predictors of acculturative hassles in a refugee population. Results indicated that more communication problems and less Norwegian language competence were related to most hassles at T3. Higher psychological distress, lower quality of life, lower self-reported state of health, and less education at T3 were associated with higher levels of hassles at T3. More psychological distress at T2 and less education at arrival (T1) were significant predictors for more acculturative hassles at T3. These data suggest that addressing psychological distress during the early phase in a resettlement country may promote long-term refugee adjustment and, in particular, reduce exposure to acculturative hassles. © 2015, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.

Vietnamese Health outcomes Mental health Refugees Acculturative hassles Psychological distress

education Vietnam longitudinal study refugee vietnamese Norway follow up mental health human community Refugees middle aged Longitudinal Studies Asian continental ancestry group acculturative hassle Stress, Psychological mental stress health status Aged language ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies quality of life cross-sectional study Humans psychology Adolescent male competence Acculturation Viet Nam female stress psychological rating scale Psychiatric Status Rating Scales cultural factor standards Article adult distress syndrome cohort analysis Linear Models statistical model