Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants

Annelies Thienpondt; Benedicte Deforche; Joris Van Damme; Gera E. Nagelhout; Jelle Van Cauwenberg

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants

Annelies Thienpondt, Benedicte Deforche, Joris Van Damme, Gera E. Nagelhout, Jelle Van Cauwenberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background and objective: Temporary Abstinence Campaigns [TAC] are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol consumption. However, it remains unclear whether the degree of exposure to TAC components is associated with changes in alcohol consumption among TAC participants and whether these are mediated through psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption. Sex disparities in these associations should also be considered. This study aimed to examine the association of exposure to ‘Tournée Minérale’ (Belgian TAC) with alcohol consumption among male and female participants, as well as the mediating role of psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption in this association Methods: Belgian adults participating in the campaign of 2017 were asked to complete three questionnaires before, six weeks after the start (post) and six months (follow-up) after the campaign. Mediation analyses were conducted for males and females separately who completed all three questionnaires (n = 8,730). The analyses were based on 5000 bootstraps with exposure to campaign materials (independent variable), psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption at post (mediator, performed separately for each of the ten determinants), and weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (outcome variable). Results: Male participants were less exposed to campaign materials compared to female participants. For males, a one-unit higher level of exposure to TMC materials was associated with a 4 % lower alcohol consumption at follow-up, but no mediation through psychosocial determinants was observed. For females, no significant association between exposure to TMC materials and alcohol consumption was found, but there were (small) significant mediating associations through habit of drinking alcohol and subjective norm to drink more. Conclusion: Exposure to campaign materials was found to play a minimal role in reducing alcohol consumption among TMC participants, and only in males. This relationship could not be explained by changes in psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption targeted with the campaign materials.

Original language	English
Article number	104717
Number of pages	10
Journal	International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume	137
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2025

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
To raise awareness of alcohol consumption and raise funds for cancer research, the Belgian national Foundation Against Cancer and the \u2018de druglijn\u2019 created and funded TMC in 2017. Via different channels (e.g. social media), all Belgian adults were encouraged to refrain during the month February. Additionally, participants were encouraged to visit and register on the TMC website ( De druglijn, 2016 ) after which motivational e-mails were send. During the intervention, participants received campaign materials via the website, email, and social media. These materials encompassed an array of topics such as the health benefits of not drinking, an overview of non-alcoholic alternatives, an alcohol calculator (which determines weight loss and money savings based on the number of glasses of alcohol consumed), exemplary testimonies from other participants, motivational messages to keep up the challenge, and the opportunity to share participation and progress online (e.g. by sharing a 'sober badge'). An acyclic behaviour change diagram presenting the underlying behaviour change techniques ( Eldredge et al., 2016 ), practical applications and targeted determinants of TMC is published elsewhere (Thienpondt, Submitted), a short summary is given in Supplementary File 1.1.

Funding Information:
We would like to thank the VAD/de druglijn and \u2018The National Foundation against Cancer\u2019 for the development and implementation of the Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale campaign and their assistance with the collection of the data used in this study. It was possible to conduct this independent research thanks to the financial support from the campaign developers Stichting tegen Kanker and VAD/dedruglijn (who commissioned and funded the data collection to evaluate the campaign \u2018Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale\u2019). Also a special thanks to Tom Evenepoel, Jonathan Deleener and David M\u00F6bius from the VAD and the colleagues from the unit Health Promotion of Ghent University for their input. The software program \u2018DeepL write\u2019 (https://www.deepl.com/write) was used to correct English-language grammar. We did not use any other AI tools in the context of this paper.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025

Keywords

Adults
Alcohol use
Intervention
Mass media campaign
adult
alcohol abstinence
alcohol consumption
article
attitude
drinking behavior
female
human
male
mass medium
mediation analysis
observational study
self concept
sex difference
social psychology

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10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

Thienpondt et al. 2025Final published version, 1 MB

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Thienpondt, A., Deforche, B., Van Damme, J., Nagelhout, G. E., & Van Cauwenberg, J. (2025). Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants. International Journal of Drug Policy, 137, Article 104717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

@article{18f879afb3354f87a9f9c23aa5fa03a3,

title = "Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign {\textquoteleft}Tourn{\'e}e Min{\'e}rale{\textquoteright} with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants",

abstract = "Background and objective: Temporary Abstinence Campaigns [TAC] are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol consumption. However, it remains unclear whether the degree of exposure to TAC components is associated with changes in alcohol consumption among TAC participants and whether these are mediated through psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption. Sex disparities in these associations should also be considered. This study aimed to examine the association of exposure to {\textquoteleft}Tourn{\'e}e Min{\'e}rale{\textquoteright} (Belgian TAC) with alcohol consumption among male and female participants, as well as the mediating role of psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption in this association Methods: Belgian adults participating in the campaign of 2017 were asked to complete three questionnaires before, six weeks after the start (post) and six months (follow-up) after the campaign. Mediation analyses were conducted for males and females separately who completed all three questionnaires (n = 8,730). The analyses were based on 5000 bootstraps with exposure to campaign materials (independent variable), psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption at post (mediator, performed separately for each of the ten determinants), and weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (outcome variable). Results: Male participants were less exposed to campaign materials compared to female participants. For males, a one-unit higher level of exposure to TMC materials was associated with a 4 % lower alcohol consumption at follow-up, but no mediation through psychosocial determinants was observed. For females, no significant association between exposure to TMC materials and alcohol consumption was found, but there were (small) significant mediating associations through habit of drinking alcohol and subjective norm to drink more. Conclusion: Exposure to campaign materials was found to play a minimal role in reducing alcohol consumption among TMC participants, and only in males. This relationship could not be explained by changes in psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption targeted with the campaign materials.",

keywords = "Adults, Alcohol use, Intervention, Mass media campaign, adult, alcohol abstinence, alcohol consumption, article, attitude, drinking behavior, female, human, male, mass medium, mediation analysis, observational study, self concept, sex difference, social psychology",

author = "Annelies Thienpondt and Benedicte Deforche and {Van Damme}, Joris and Nagelhout, {Gera E.} and {Van Cauwenberg}, Jelle",

note = "Funding Information: To raise awareness of alcohol consumption and raise funds for cancer research, the Belgian national Foundation Against Cancer and the \u2018de druglijn\u2019 created and funded TMC in 2017. Via different channels (e.g. social media), all Belgian adults were encouraged to refrain during the month February. Additionally, participants were encouraged to visit and register on the TMC website ( De druglijn, 2016 ) after which motivational e-mails were send. During the intervention, participants received campaign materials via the website, email, and social media. These materials encompassed an array of topics such as the health benefits of not drinking, an overview of non-alcoholic alternatives, an alcohol calculator (which determines weight loss and money savings based on the number of glasses of alcohol consumed), exemplary testimonies from other participants, motivational messages to keep up the challenge, and the opportunity to share participation and progress online (e.g. by sharing a 'sober badge'). An acyclic behaviour change diagram presenting the underlying behaviour change techniques ( Eldredge et al., 2016 ), practical applications and targeted determinants of TMC is published elsewhere (Thienpondt, Submitted), a short summary is given in Supplementary File 1.1. Funding Information: We would like to thank the VAD/de druglijn and \u2018The National Foundation against Cancer\u2019 for the development and implementation of the Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale campaign and their assistance with the collection of the data used in this study. It was possible to conduct this independent research thanks to the financial support from the campaign developers Stichting tegen Kanker and VAD/dedruglijn (who commissioned and funded the data collection to evaluate the campaign \u2018Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale\u2019). Also a special thanks to Tom Evenepoel, Jonathan Deleener and David M\u00F6bius from the VAD and the colleagues from the unit Health Promotion of Ghent University for their input. The software program \u2018DeepL write\u2019 (https://www.deepl.com/write) was used to correct English-language grammar. We did not use any other AI tools in the context of this paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717",

language = "English",

volume = "137",

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Thienpondt, A, Deforche, B, Van Damme, J, Nagelhout, GE & Van Cauwenberg, J 2025, 'Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants', International Journal of Drug Policy, vol. 137, 104717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants. / Thienpondt, Annelies; Deforche, Benedicte; Van Damme, Joris et al.
In: International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 137, 104717, 01.03.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants

AU - Thienpondt, Annelies

AU - Deforche, Benedicte

AU - Van Damme, Joris

AU - Nagelhout, Gera E.

AU - Van Cauwenberg, Jelle

N1 - Funding Information: To raise awareness of alcohol consumption and raise funds for cancer research, the Belgian national Foundation Against Cancer and the \u2018de druglijn\u2019 created and funded TMC in 2017. Via different channels (e.g. social media), all Belgian adults were encouraged to refrain during the month February. Additionally, participants were encouraged to visit and register on the TMC website ( De druglijn, 2016 ) after which motivational e-mails were send. During the intervention, participants received campaign materials via the website, email, and social media. These materials encompassed an array of topics such as the health benefits of not drinking, an overview of non-alcoholic alternatives, an alcohol calculator (which determines weight loss and money savings based on the number of glasses of alcohol consumed), exemplary testimonies from other participants, motivational messages to keep up the challenge, and the opportunity to share participation and progress online (e.g. by sharing a 'sober badge'). An acyclic behaviour change diagram presenting the underlying behaviour change techniques ( Eldredge et al., 2016 ), practical applications and targeted determinants of TMC is published elsewhere (Thienpondt, Submitted), a short summary is given in Supplementary File 1.1. Funding Information: We would like to thank the VAD/de druglijn and \u2018The National Foundation against Cancer\u2019 for the development and implementation of the Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale campaign and their assistance with the collection of the data used in this study. It was possible to conduct this independent research thanks to the financial support from the campaign developers Stichting tegen Kanker and VAD/dedruglijn (who commissioned and funded the data collection to evaluate the campaign \u2018Tourn\u00E9e Min\u00E9rale\u2019). Also a special thanks to Tom Evenepoel, Jonathan Deleener and David M\u00F6bius from the VAD and the colleagues from the unit Health Promotion of Ghent University for their input. The software program \u2018DeepL write\u2019 (https://www.deepl.com/write) was used to correct English-language grammar. We did not use any other AI tools in the context of this paper. Publisher Copyright: © 2025

PY - 2025/3/1

Y1 - 2025/3/1

N2 - Background and objective: Temporary Abstinence Campaigns [TAC] are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol consumption. However, it remains unclear whether the degree of exposure to TAC components is associated with changes in alcohol consumption among TAC participants and whether these are mediated through psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption. Sex disparities in these associations should also be considered. This study aimed to examine the association of exposure to ‘Tournée Minérale’ (Belgian TAC) with alcohol consumption among male and female participants, as well as the mediating role of psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption in this association Methods: Belgian adults participating in the campaign of 2017 were asked to complete three questionnaires before, six weeks after the start (post) and six months (follow-up) after the campaign. Mediation analyses were conducted for males and females separately who completed all three questionnaires (n = 8,730). The analyses were based on 5000 bootstraps with exposure to campaign materials (independent variable), psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption at post (mediator, performed separately for each of the ten determinants), and weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (outcome variable). Results: Male participants were less exposed to campaign materials compared to female participants. For males, a one-unit higher level of exposure to TMC materials was associated with a 4 % lower alcohol consumption at follow-up, but no mediation through psychosocial determinants was observed. For females, no significant association between exposure to TMC materials and alcohol consumption was found, but there were (small) significant mediating associations through habit of drinking alcohol and subjective norm to drink more. Conclusion: Exposure to campaign materials was found to play a minimal role in reducing alcohol consumption among TMC participants, and only in males. This relationship could not be explained by changes in psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption targeted with the campaign materials.

AB - Background and objective: Temporary Abstinence Campaigns [TAC] are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol consumption. However, it remains unclear whether the degree of exposure to TAC components is associated with changes in alcohol consumption among TAC participants and whether these are mediated through psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption. Sex disparities in these associations should also be considered. This study aimed to examine the association of exposure to ‘Tournée Minérale’ (Belgian TAC) with alcohol consumption among male and female participants, as well as the mediating role of psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption in this association Methods: Belgian adults participating in the campaign of 2017 were asked to complete three questionnaires before, six weeks after the start (post) and six months (follow-up) after the campaign. Mediation analyses were conducted for males and females separately who completed all three questionnaires (n = 8,730). The analyses were based on 5000 bootstraps with exposure to campaign materials (independent variable), psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption at post (mediator, performed separately for each of the ten determinants), and weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (outcome variable). Results: Male participants were less exposed to campaign materials compared to female participants. For males, a one-unit higher level of exposure to TMC materials was associated with a 4 % lower alcohol consumption at follow-up, but no mediation through psychosocial determinants was observed. For females, no significant association between exposure to TMC materials and alcohol consumption was found, but there were (small) significant mediating associations through habit of drinking alcohol and subjective norm to drink more. Conclusion: Exposure to campaign materials was found to play a minimal role in reducing alcohol consumption among TMC participants, and only in males. This relationship could not be explained by changes in psychosocial determinants of alcohol consumption targeted with the campaign materials.

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KW - Alcohol use

KW - Intervention

KW - Mass media campaign

KW - adult

KW - alcohol abstinence

KW - alcohol consumption

KW - article

KW - attitude

KW - drinking behavior

KW - female

KW - human

KW - male

KW - mass medium

KW - mediation analysis

KW - observational study

KW - self concept

KW - sex difference

KW - social psychology

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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104717

M3 - Article

SN - 0955-3959

VL - 137

JO - International Journal of Drug Policy

JF - International Journal of Drug Policy

M1 - 104717

ER -

Association of exposure to the temporary abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’ with alcohol consumption among male and female participants: The mediating role of psychosocial determinants

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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