Charlene Belu

Assistant Professor

PhD

Psychology

Keirstead Hall 216

Fredericton

c.belu@unb.ca



Pronouns: she/her

Research

My research focuses broadly on intimate relationships and sexual wellbeing. Specifically, I am interested in understanding interpersonal predictors of wellbeing among individuals in relationships and couples, particularly those who may be coping with challenges such as sexual difficulty (e.g., orgasmic disorder) or infidelity. I am also interested in the experience of extradyadic attraction among those in romantic relationships.

I welcome enquiries from clinical and experimental graduate students who may be interested in pursuing research in these areas.

Education

  • B.A. (Hons.) Grant MacEwan University
  • Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) University of New Brunswick
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship Dalhousie University

Publications

Bockaj, A., Muise, M. D., Belu, C. F., Rosen, N. O., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (accepted). Sexual performance anxiety in the sexual interactions of men and women. The Journal of Sex Research.

Wang, A. G., Belu. C. F., Allsop, D. B.G, & Rosen, N. O. (in press). Interpersonal emotion regulation during relationship conflict: Daily and longitudinal associations with couples’ sexual well-being. Emotion.

Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2024). Predictors of infidelity among couples. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 21, 270-272.

Belu, C. F., & O'Sullivan, L. F. (2024). It’s just a little crush: Attraction to an alternative and romantic relationship quality, breakups and infidelity. The Journal of Sex Research.

Coon, L. C. H., Metcalfe, K. B., Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2023). Recalling, reacting but not regretting?: Characteristics of sexual and romantic infidelity experiences. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 32, 321-331.

Belu, C. F., Corsini-Munt, S. Dubé, J. P., Wang, G. A., & Rosen, N. O. (2023). Partner responses to low desire among couples coping with male hypoactive sexual desire disorder and associations with sexual wellbeing. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 20, 955-964.

O'Sullivan, L. F., Belu, C. F., Richard, M. E., Fuller, R. B. (2023). Did you help? Intervening on behalf of a target during incidents of sexual assault among college student bystanders. Journal of College Student Development, 64, 208-224.

O'Sullivan, L. F., Belu. C. F., & Garcia, J. R. (2022). Loving you from afar: Crushes among adults in exclusive relationships, communication, perceived outcomes, and expectations of future intimate involvement with crush targets. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39, 413-434.

Muise, M. D., Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2021). Unspoken, yet understood: Exploring how couples communicate their exclusivity agreements. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 30, 196-204.

Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2020). Once a poacher always a poacher? Mate poaching history and its association with relationship quality. The Journal of Sex Research, 57, 508-521.

Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2019). Roving eyes: Predictors of crushes in ongoing romantic relationships and implications for relationship quality. The Journal of Relationship Research, 10, E2.

Belu, C. F., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2018). Why find my own when I can take yours?: The quality of relationships that arise from successful mate poaching. The Journal of Relationship Research, 9, E6.

Teaching

  • Undergraduate courses: Close Relationships (PSYC 3453) and Human Sexuality (PSYC 3403)
  • Graduate courses: Ethical Standards for Psychologists (PSYC 6101) and Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology (PSYC 6102)

Professional awards

  • 2022-2024: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  • 2022: Certificate of Academic Excellence for Doctoral Thesis, Canadian Psychological Association
  • 2020: Maecenas Graduate Scholarship, University of New Brunswick
  • 2016-2019: Magee Third Century Postgraduate Merit Award, University of New Brunswick
  • 2016-2019: Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Award-D3, SSHRC
  • 2015: Joseph Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Award CGS-M, SSHRC
  • 2014: Social Innovation Scholarship, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation