Objective: To identify a range of risk and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms in adolescents. Methods: Fifty-two adolescents who were diagnosed with semi-structured interviews for major depressive disorder (MDD) were included in the study. Fifty-eight healthy controls of the same age, gender and socioeconomic status were included in the study. Participants were asked to fill the Beck Depression Inventory, Kiddo-Kindl Quality of Life-Questionnaire, Scale of Socioeconomic Status and Sociodemographic Form. Moreover, depression symptom levels of parents who are involved in clinical and control group were compared. Results: Study and control groups differentiated in terms of employment status of mothers, the presence of mental illness in the family, the existence of domestic violence, marital problems between parents, school performance. It was found that adolescents in the study group, adolescent mothers and fathers symptom levels of depression are higher than adolescents in the control group, adolescent mothers and fathers, respectively. In the depression group, quality of life levels are significantly lower than control group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis in final model; it is found that employment status of mother, the presence of mental illness in the family, mother-father depression scores the lead to an increase in the levels of depression. But self-esteem is a protective role in depression. Conclusion: Employment statuses of mothers, the presence of mental illness in the family, mother-father level of depression appear as risk factors in the way of depression. But self-esteem is a protective role in depression. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2013; 14(2.000): 145-151]