I did my psychology thesis on the Impact of the ex-spouse on the life satisfaction and affective states of women with children. Amongst other things, I found that those women who did not take any child support money from their ex partner and whose children did not see their father, had higher life satisfaction and more positive affect (mood) than women who did take the child support and whose kids still saw their father. Why? Because when the father is no longer present in their lives, life can return to normal, the woman can have greater sense of control over her own life, and the children have less destruction, anger and disruption in their lives. Of course, this environment would not be the case for many families, especially where the men are not irrational, abusive or controlling and are focussed on getting the best outcome for their children.