Sam Worthington and Lara Bingle
Cast member Sam Worthington and his girlfriend Lara Bingle pose at the premiere of "Sabotage" in Los Angeles, California March 19, 2014. The movie opens in the U.S. on March 28. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni Reuters

Lara Bingle was rumoured to be pregnant with her boyfriend, Sam Worthing. The rumours were in the air for a couple of months, but was fueled by her visit to a New York Medical Centre.

If Lara is expecting, then she joins the list of the many actresses like Adele, Kourtney Kardashian and Angelina Jolie who had not yet been wed before becoming pregnant. A few months ago, there were rumours that she was married to Sam, but she clearly said that she was neither married nor pregnant, reported the Daily Mail.

A report by British Social Attitudes, which is a government-subsidised annual snapshot of what the country thinks, has found that there was a sharp fall in the number of couples marrying before having children. Historic believers think that a foundation to a family is provided only after a couple is married, but a large number of people have started disagreeing with the belief in the last two decades. The report said that the opinions of the people have shifted in the last few decades.

Daily Mail reported that just about 42 percent of the people believe that a couple will have children only after marriage, while in 1989, it was 70 percent. The report found that nearly a quarter of the people, about 23 percent of them, were unsure if marriage was important or not while 34 percent of them thought that marriage was definitely not important before having children.

It was found that children of married parents seemed to enjoy good health and do better in school when compared to those of unmarried or single parents. The number of children born outside marriage is equal to almost half of the babies that are born.

The children aren't the only ones who enjoy better health, but married couples also are said to be healthier than their single counterparts, reported the Web site, ASPE Research. Some researchers suggest that 'healthier' people have a better chance of marrying because of which married couples are said to be healthier, but then a few others say that there is a link between marriage and better health.

Marriage results in an emotional fulfilling that leads to better mental health. It also satisfies the need for an intimate relationship that has an implication on physical health as well. In some cases, when both, the wife and the husband, are working, it results in economic-well being that ultimately reduces stress and enhancing access to health care.

Another benefit of marriage is that, a spouse plays an important role in taking care of the family. This helps in keeping check of good eating habits as well as regulare exercise. Since the couple have better mental and physical health and healthier habits, having children post-marriage is considered healthier.