Could spanking lead to dating violence? A new study says yes.

A new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics weighs in on corporal punishment.

The study started with 758 participants averaging 20 years old. Almost 500 reported receiving corporal punishment, such as spanks, as children.

ABC 33/40 took to social media to see how folks in Alabama feel about physical punishment.

According to an ABC 33/40 Twitter poll, 81% of the 150 users who answered the poll say corporal punishment is OK.

If the study's findings are correct, many might start to rethink their stance on the topic.

19% of the study participants said they have committed violent acts in their relationships.

"It doesn't shock me, if violence is the way that their taught to solve problems, then that's all learned," said Amanda Carmichael.

Carmichael is the Assistant Director of Domestic Violence Services with the YWCA in Birmingham.

The YWCA domestic violence shelter doesn't allow mothers to discipline their children through corporal punishment, deeming it too violent of a behavior.

The study says "analysis showed a significant positive association between corporal punishment and physical perpetration of dating violence...even after controlling for sex, ethnicity, age, parental education, and child physical abuse, childhood corporal punishment was associated significantly with physical dating violence perpetration."