Charlene Belu

Assistant Professor

PhD

Psychology

Keirstead Hall 216

Fredericton

c.belu@unb.ca
1 506 458 7697



Pronouns: she/her

Research

My research focuses broadly on close relationships, sexual wellbeing and couples. 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.

Considering graduate supervision for 2025 and 2026 intake.

Education

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

Publications

Belu, C. F. (2024). From betrayal to bliss: Associations between infidelity and relationship satisfaction. In T. Shackelford (Ed.), Springer Nature Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham.

Belu, C. F., Bergeron, S., Huberman, J. S., Schwenck, G. C., & Rosen, N. O. (2024). Attraction toward one’s partner is associated with sexual desire, satisfaction, and distress among couples coping with sexual interest/arousal disorder. The Journal of Sex Research. Advance online publication.

Wang, A. G., Belu. C. F., Allsop, D. B.G, & Rosen, N. O. (2024). Interpersonal emotion regulation during relationship conflict: Daily and longitudinal associations with couples’ sexual well-being. Emotion. Advance online publication.

Bockaj, A., Muise, M. D., Belu, C. F., Rosen, N. O., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (2024). Sexual performance anxiety in the sexual interactions of men and women. The Journal of Sex Research. Advance online publication.

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:
    • PSYC 3453 - Close Relationships
    • PSYC 3403 - Human Sexuality
    • PSYC 2401 - Social Psychology
  • Graduate courses:
    • PSYC 6101 - Ethical Standards for Psychologists
    • PSYC 6102 - Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology

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

Funding

  • 2024-2026: Research New Brunswick Talent Recruitment Fund
  • 2024-2026: Insight Development Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council