Physical punishment is associated with a range of mental health
problems in children, youth and adults, including depression, unhappiness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, use of drugs and
alcohol, and general psychological maladjustment.26 — 29 These relationships may be mediated by disruptions in parent — child attachment resulting from pain inflicted by a caregiver, 30,31 by increased levels of cortisol32 or by chemical disruption of the brain's mechanism for regulating stress.33 Researchers are also finding that physical punishment is linked to slower cognitive development and adversely affects academic achievement.34 These findings come from large longitudinal studies that control for a wide range of potential confounders.35 Intriguing results are now
emerging from neuroimaging studies, which suggest that physical punishment may reduce the volume of the brain's grey matter in areas associated with performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, third edition (WAIS - III).36 In addition, physical punishment can cause alterations in the dopaminergic regions associated with vulnerability to the abuse of drugs and
alcohol.37
So far, no details of that kind have
emerged, and, in fact, the shooter's brother said he did not know of any mental illness,
alcohol, or drug
problems.