Answer to Question 1
Marriage provides a buffer against mental health problems like alienation, loneliness, unhappiness, and depression. It helps family members deal with emotional crises. Marriage reduces the rates of poverty for women and children. It increases the likelihood that children will graduate from college and achieve high-status jobs.
Answer to Question 2
They live a distance from their children. There may be conflict with the ex-spouse and/or stepparent. The father has new interests, family, or children. There may be feelings of guilt of nonpayment of support or failure to meet other obligations. The age of the children also plays a role: teenagers may be too busy to for the noncustodial parent.
