The discussion uses a multidisciplinary approach and is based on materials from medicine, law, social service, and the mass media. It notes that efforts to compile reliable and uniform national data about domestic violence are hindered by the lack of agreement among States and legal, medical, and social service providers on the domestic violence, how it is measured and reported, and who its victims are. Little comparative data exist to compare outcomes for abused women who use shelter services with those who do not. In addition, the few studies on the effects of protective studies reveal that the rate of violence remains unchanged for individuals who obtain them. Moreover, the economic disparity between regions of the country also translates into different approaches to domestic assault. Furthermore, little research has been done regarding the indirect effects of domestic violence on victims, their families, and their communities. Major domestic violence terms include battering, battering syndrome, domestic violence, order of protection, restraining order, women's shelter, and violence. Major information sources related to domestic violence include databases, resource directories, printed and electronic bibliographies, research texts, popular readings, films, electronic media, print media, Internet resources, Congressional hearings, dissertations. List of 10 recommended journals, notes, author index, and 38 references (Publisher summary modified)