These results support the notion that the start of university studies is a particularly relevant stage in the onset of illegal drug use and its prevention, and that consumption may be especially associated with family support.

Mental disorders are consistently and closely related to psychological distress. At the start of the university period, the relationship between a student’s psychological distress, family support, and employment status is not well-known. The aims of this study were: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress in first-year university students and to analyze its relationship with family support and the student’s employment status. Data from 4166 first-year university students from nine universities across Spain were considered. The prevalence of psychological distress was obtained using the GHQ-12, a valid and reliable screening tool to detect poor mental health. To analyze the relationship between psychological distress, family support, and employment status, logistic regression models were fitted. Regarding the prevalence found, 46.9% of men and 54.2% of women had psychological distress. In both genders, psychological distress levels increased as family support decreased. Among women, psychological distress was associated with their employment status. The prevalence of psychological distress among first-year university students in Spain is high. In addition, family support, and employment status for women, could be factors to take into account when developing psychological distress prevention strategies at the beginning of the university period.

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There is growing evidence showing the efficacy of contextual or third-generation therapies in various contexts and clinical conditions. In large groups of first- and second-year high school students (n= 112), the present study compares the efficacy of applying a program based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) versus a combined program using strategies from Functional-Analytical Psychotherapy (FAP), resulting in a so-called FACT approach. The purpose of this intervention was to extract the most relevant processes underpinning clinical changes to design training programs based on contextual behavioral science to improve students' health. The results indicated that both interventions produced statistically significant improvement in the health of the students. The program combined with FACT was superior in the self-concept variable. The implications of both brief programs to improve students' health in short periods are discussed on the basis of a behavioral methodology adapted to the academic context.