Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – The divorce rate in Saudi Arabia is on the rise, according to a recently published study.

Dr. Jamal al Touwayriki, a child psychologist at the King Fahad National Guard hospital, said more couples were divorcing because of the changing meaning of marriage and the unwillingness to compromise.

More divorces occurred in the first two years of marriage than at any other time, he added.

Dr. al Touwayriki blamed Saudi parents for spoiling their children, without teaching them how to cope with everyday problems. He warned that the influence of the family continued even after marriage as parents often put pressure on their son or daughter not to divorce “for fear of being called a failure or a divorcee.” This meant that divorce would occur later in life, after children are born, further complicating family relations.

Describing Saudi Arabia as “a gluttonous society”, the psychologist recommended families instill in their children the values of honesty, respect, appreciation of others, responsibility and respect for religion. “Our behavior is always exaggerated,” he said. “This includes all our social behavior, including love, hate, eating and social relations.”

With many young men and women focusing on appearances, more marital problems are occurring, as couples find out they are not compatible, after getting married. In the past, women would remain in an unhappy marriage, despite their husband mistreating them, in order to maintain a good self-image and ensure their children grow up in a stable home.

Another study who’s finding were published by Asharq Al-Awsat earlier this year revealed As many as 33 women in the Kingdom get divorced every day which raises the rate of divorce to 20 percent.

the study also revealed that the Eastern Province had the highest divorce rate in the Kingdom with 60 cases a day in 2005. Riyadh comes next where the divorce rate reaches 50 cases daily followed by Tabuk with 29, Hail 34, Asir 16, Mecca 15 and Al-Baha 9 divorces daily.