INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM 67 WOMEN ABOUT THE VICTIM HERSELF, THE ABUSER, AND THE FAMILY SITUATION. THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS WERE MARRIED WITH CHILDREN LIVING IN THE HOME. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WOMAN AND HER ABUSER WAS OF CONSIDERABLE DURATION. THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF THE FAMILIES INVOLVED WAS TYPICALLY LOWER MIDDLE-CLASS. THE VICTIMS WERE NOT ISOLATED AND WITHOUT RESOURCES, AS SOME STUDIES HAVE PORTRAYED THEM. OVER HALF THE WOMEN WERE EMPLOYED OUTSIDE THE HOME OR HAD INDEPENDENT INCOMES. NEARLY 60 PERCENT SAID THEY HAD SOME PLACE TO RESIDE IF THEY LEFT THE ABUSIVE SITUATION. EIGHTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE ABUSERS WERE REPORTED TO BE ALCOHOL USERS. THIRTY-FIVE OF THE MEN DRANK DAILY AND ANOTHER 10 DRANK HEAVILY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK OR ON WEEKENDS. SEVENTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE WOMEN REPORTED FREQUENT DRINKING THEMSELVES. TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE VICTIMS REPORTED THEY HAD BEEN THREATENED WITH A GUN OR KNIFE, AND NEARLY 75 PERCENT WERE ABUSED WITH THE HANDS, FEET, OR AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS. OVER HALF SAID THE BEATING RESULTED FROM THE HUSBAND'S JEALOUSY. ABOUT ONE OUT OF FIVE OF THE FAMILIES REPRESENTED IN THE STUDY HAD PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH A SOCIAL AGENCY OR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)