Drawing upon a wide range of contemporary research from across the globe, it recognises that domestic violence is both universal, but also shaped by local cultures and contexts. Divided into seven parts:

. Introduction.
. Theoretical perspectives on domestic violence and abuse.
. Domestic violence and abuse across the life-course.
. Manifestations of domestic violence and abuse.
. Responding to domestic violence and abuse.
. Researching domestic violence and abuse.
. Concluding thoughts.

It will be of interest to all academics and students working in social work, allied health, sociology, criminology and gender studies as well as policy professionals looking for new approaches to the subject.