Massachusetts’ “Abuse Prevention Act” is found under G.L. c. 209A.
Section 3 of that statute states that a court may issue an abuse prevention order if a person is suffering from “abuse from an adult or minor family or household member.”
“Abuse” is defined under Section 1
According to that section, abuse is
the occurrence of any of the following acts between family or household members:
(a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm;
(b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm;
(c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress;
(d) coercive control.
What exactly is “coercive control”? That answer requires its own blog post. See Non-Violent “Coercive Control” Now Considered Abuse Under Massachusetts’ Restraining Order Law.