Physical punishment in childhood is linked to worse school performance and more aggression. Freepik Hitting children, even if it is considered educational by parents, can lead to behavioral problems and poorer school performance. This is what a new report published by researchers at University College London points out. The survey showed that children who suffered physical punishment at three, five and seven years old were 40% more likely to bully other teenagers when they turned 14. Furthermore, at this age, they were 35% more likely to hit, push or attack someone and 33% more likely to adopt risky behavior with other people. The analysis also associated physical punishment with lower grades in subjects such as English and Mathematics. "Our results confirm previous evidence that physical punishment has no benefits and is associated with harmful consequences for child development and well-being," said study lead author Anja Heilmann, from UCL's Epidemiology and Public Health practice, in a statement. Now on g1 How was the study carried out? The study used quantitative and qualitative information to arrive at the observed results. In the qualitative stage, the prevalence of physical punishment in childrearing in the United Kingdom and its association with behavioral, cognitive and educational factors was analyzed. In the quantitative part, data from the Millennium Cohort Study was used, a nationally representative longitudinal study led by UCL, which follows around 19 thousand children born in the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2002. "Researchers analyzed information collected regularly from age nine months to age 17 to examine how physical punishment related to family characteristics and outcomes across the lifespan," they explain in the study. Research limitations As this is an observational study, it is not possible to establish a cause and effect relationship between the factors analyzed, only an association. The analyzes considered several variables that can influence both the use of physical punishment and the results, including socioeconomic and family characteristics. But the researchers emphasize that it is not possible to completely rule out the existence of unmeasured factors that may also have influenced the associations found. READ ALSO: ‘Nous coussons’, ‘il chouchote’: French verbs go viral as ‘fifth grade jokes’; understand meanings Sweden asks parents not to use cell phones around their children Criminalization of aggression against children Through the results of the study, the researchers seek to reiterate the need for changes in legislation in countries such as England and Northern Ireland, where physically punishing children is not considered a crime. "Children have the right to grow up free from all forms of violence. It is not acceptable that, in 2026, children in England and Northern Ireland have less legal protection against physical harm than adults", argues Heilmann. ➡️In Brazil, any type of aggression against children, whether physical or psychological, can be considered a crime. According to the Federal Constitution, children and adolescents have the right to dignity and cannot be exposed to violence, cruelty and oppression. Furthermore, the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA) in force in the country aims to protect the physical and psychological integrity of this group, ensuring their development.