Young people under 25 already exhibit elevated levels of loneliness compared to their older counterparts, and pandemic conditions, including social isolation, may exacerbate these feelings. Given the guidelines for social distancing and isolation, studies have shown that loneliness was more prevalent and devastating during the pandemic than before COVID-19 Therefore, as was common during COVID-19, students who have engaged in virtual studying, live alone, or feel excluded from their community may demonstrate a high risk of loneliness which may lead to increased substance use and mental health problems. Another risk factor is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Experiencing on-to-two ACEs has been associated with mental health status in adulthood. A study in the United States measuring ACEs found that adolescents who reported four or more ACEs during the pandemic had a prevalence of worse current mental health four times as high as those without ACEs during the pandemic. In contrast, Family support and spirituality/religiosity have been associated with positive mental health benefits. For students during quarantine conditions who moved back home, lost internships, and began attending classes remotely, the family environment was especially likely to have a negative impact on their mental health. Adherence to cultural values such as religion may play an influential role in college students’ behaviors. For example, spiritual or religious involvement is generally associated with decreased risk for alcohol or drug abuse and problems with dependence. Similarly, spirituality or religiosity can also reduce the risk of mental problems, including depression and anxiety (HG., 2009 Studies showed that both practical and emotional family support could reduce the psychological pressure and stress in university students. It has always been important to identify risk and protective factors associated with symptoms of mental illness and substance use; however, this line of inquiry is even more meaningful since public health emergency guidelines (i.e., social distancing, social isolation) were lifted. The knowledge generated from post-COVID studies on behavioral health will guide specific prevention and intervention targets for college youth and can inform the management of behavioral impacts of future pandemics. Thus, it is important to determine what specific factors increase symptoms of mental illness and risky alcohol consumption in the university population, an age group transitioning to adulthood and already vulnerable to substance abuse, depression, and anxiety. However, no studies have measured risk and protective factors for mental and behavioral health conditions among university students in Spain, a region hard-hit by COVID-19 cases early in the pandemic. The overarching aim of his study is to assess the relationship between psychosocial factors (e.g., Loneliness, stress, spiritual connection) and outcomes of depression, anxiety, and alcohol use among university students in Seville, Spain, after COVID-19 social guidelines of quarantine and social distancing were lifted. The specific aims are 1) to report the prevalence of mental health symptoms and alcohol consumption among these university students and 2) to examine the impacts of risk and protective factors on mental health and alcohol use, stratified by sex/gender.