UVOD: Depresivnost je emocionalno stanje karakterizirano osjećajima tuge, neraspoloženja, žalosti i utučenosti, a manifestira se promjenom raspoloženja, gubitkom interesa i anhedonijom, umorom i slabljenjem životne energije, osjećajem bezvrijednosti i krivnje, teškoćama u koncentraciji i donošenju odluka. Na tjelesnom planu ove promjene prati poremećaj apetita, spavanja i psihomotoričke organizacije. Depresija je zasebna psihopatološka kategorija i njezina etiologija je kompleksna jer uključuje i organske i okolišne čimbenike. CILJ: Posebno validiranim anketama ispitati prediktore depresije kod učenika osnovnih škola na području Požeško-slavonske županije. METODE: Istraživanje je provedeno u osnovnim školama Požeško-slavonske županije anonimnim anketiranjem učenika, uz pisanu dozvolu roditelja. REZULTATI: Iznadprosječnu razinu depresivnosti postiže 42 (10,2%) djece, a jih 17 (4,1%) klinički značajnu depresivnost. Šansu za nastanak depresije povećavaju spol (djevojčice 3,5× češće nego dječaci), pušenje (2,3× više pušača), te djeca koja pohađaju vanškolske aktivnosti (2× više). Značajna razlika postoji i prema dobi ispitanika (F=5,359; p=0,005) - značajno veću depresivnost imaju ispitanici sa 16 godina. Postoji značajna razlika u depresivnosti prema bračnom statusu roditelja (T=-2,32; p=0,02), značajno veću depresivnost imaju ispitanici kojima roditelji ne žive zajedno. Značajna razlika postoji i prema financijskim primanjima obitelji (F=4,102; p=0,01), pokazalo se kako značajno veću depresivnost imaju ispitanici kojima su obiteljska primanja manja od 5000 kn naspram ispitanika čija su primanja veća od 10000 kn (p=0,02). Prosječna vrijednost rezultata na skali samopoštovanja iznosi 16,92 za svu testiranu djecu sa statistički značajnom razlikom između dječaka i djevojčica (djevojčice imaju niže samopoštovanje i izraženiju depresivnost). Značajni prediktori depresivnosti su spol ispitanika (p=0,003), mjesto stanovanja (p=0,01), školski uspjeh (p=0,002), obrazovanje majke (p=0,006) i samopoštovanje (p<0,001). Ženski spol i stanovanje u gradu značajno doprinose depresivnosti kod učenika. Bolji školski uspjeh, više obrazovanje majke i više samopoštovanje negativno doprinose depresivnosti. ZAKLJUČAK: Rezultati ovoga istraživanja ukazuju na potrebu još jačeg međudjelovanja obrazovnih i zdravstvenih institucija na ranu detekciju mentalnih poremećaja mladih, kao i na mogućnost potrebe uvođenja standardiziranih testova koji bi detektirali te poremećaje u ranijoj fazi ranjive populacije. Depression is an emotional state characterized by feelings of sadness, low mood and dejection, mood swings, loss of interest and anhedonia, fatigue and weakening of life energy, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, difficulties in concentration and decision-making. These changes are accompanied by disturbances in appetite, sleep and psychomotor organization. Depression is a psychopathological category and its etiology is complex because it includes both organic and environmental factors. AIM: To examine predictors of depression among elementary school students in Požega-Slavonska County with specially validated surveys. METHODS: The research was conducted in primary schools by anonymously surveying students with the written permission of their parents. RESULTS: 42 (10.2%) of children have an above-average level of depression, and 17 (4.1%) have clinically significant depression. The chance of developing depression is increased by gender (girls 3.5 times more often than boys), smokers (2.3 times more than non-smokers) and children who attend extracurricular activities (2 times more). There is also a significant difference according to the age of the subjects (F=5.359; p=0.005), subjects with 16 years of age have significantly higher depression. There is a significant difference in depression according to the marital status of the parents (T=-2.32; p=0.02). Respondents whose parents do not live together have a significantly higher level of depression. Aaccording to the financial income of the family (F=4.102; p=0.01), less money per month has a significantly higher level of depression for respondents whose family income is less than HRK 5,000 have significantly higher levels of depression compared to respondents whose income is greater than HRK 10,000 (p=0.02). The average value of the result on the self-esteem scale is 16.92 for all tested children with a statistically significant difference between boys and girls (girls have lower self-esteem and more pronounced depression). Significant predictors of depression are the subject's gender (p=0.003), place of residence (p=0.01), school performance (p=0.002), mother's education (p=0.006) and self-esteem (p<0.001). Female gender and living in the city significantly contribute to depression among students. Better school performance, higher education of the mother and higher self-esteem contribute negatively to depression. CONCLUSION: The results of this research indicate the need for even stronger interaction between educational and health institutions for the early detection of mental disorders in young people, as well as the possibility of the need to introduce standardized tests that would detect these disorders in the earlier phase of the vulnerable population.