Pressure Points in Modern Marriages

Pressure Points in Modern Marriages

Dubai has one of the highest divorce rates in the world. The statistics show 6 divorces per 1,000 people in Dubai. In Russia – among the countries with the highest divorce rates worldwide – it has been 4.8 divorces. In the US 3.6 divorces per 1,000 people. Moreover, the numbers of Dubai are not reflecting the divorces in home countries.

The full article was originally published in Gulf News

What accounts for these numbers here?

“For wealthier expats, life in Dubai can present “unique challenges” compared to other big cities, says Dr Kennon Rider, marriage and family therapy practitioner with the German Neuroscience Centre.

First of all, couples are away from family, friends, and longtime colleagues — “all people who give not only support, but advice,” said Dr Rider.

Back home, people are more likely to be in touch with those who hang on to common values — something that can be less likely to happen when you move abroad.

“Here in Dubai, people [may] feel rootless,” adds Rider, who is also a psychology professor at Zayed University.

Having few ties or no roots makes it easier to get outside of your comfort zone.

Getting outside of your comfort zone can be a double-edged sword. On the one side, there are the new experiences and perspectives gained from moving to a new place. On the other side, there are more chances of a partner straying.

Almost half of the couples who come to Dr Rider for therapy have what he calls “broken trust issues.”

Predictably, not all of these are about infidelity, but “most are.”

“One of the biggest and most difficult problems that I see in treatment is the ‘should we stay or should we go’ question.

Husbands often have found their dream jobs, [which are] challenging and rewarding; wives on the other hand can’t wait to return to a community with more connection [they previously had]. It’s a big problem when this one comes up.”

— Dr Kennon Rider, marriage and family therapy practitioner with the German Neuroscience Centre”

The full article was originally published in Gulf News