There has been evidence to suggest that adolescence is associated with depression onset. A potential risk factor for adolescent depression is depressive symptoms in peers. Previous studies have shown linear association between peer depressive symptoms and adolescent depressive symptoms in dyads or small groups of friends, but none on how the configuration of social networks (e.g. number of degrees of separation from depressed social contact) influences adolescents’ depressive symptoms. Using this approach allows us to visualise adolescents’ social space, and expands our understanding of relationship of the peer network to adolescents' depressive symptoms.

This study aims to improve on previous studies' methods of adjustment. This study aims to identify friendship networks of 16 year-old adolescents, and investigate the effect of peers' depressive symptoms on adolescents’ depressive symptoms. It is hypothesized that there will be an association between peer depressive symptoms and adolescents' depressive symptoms. This study also aims to use structural properties of the friendship network (e.g. degrees of separation) to further investigate the relationship between the peer network and adolescents' depressive symptoms.