Background:　Previous　studies　have　found　that　adolescents＇　depressive　symptoms　are　influenced　by　social　networks　in　a　stressful　context,　especially　focusing　on　the　processes　of　social　selection　and　social　influence.　The　current　study　aimed　to　explore　the　coevolution　of　sociometric　popularity　and　depressive　symptoms　among　adolescents　suffering　from　the　stress　attached　to　the　Chinese　gaokao.　Methods:　The　analytical　sample　comprised　1062　Chinese　adolescents　who　were　under　significant　pressure　to　return　to　school　for　an　additional　year　(returnees)　to　prepare　for　college　entrance　examinations.　Students　were　assessed　for　depressive　symptoms　and　asked　to　nominate　up　to　five　friends　within　their　classes　across　four　waves　(six　months).　We　employed　stochastic　actor-oriented　models　to　investigate　the　interdependent　relationships　between　popularity　and　depressive　symptoms.　Results:　Adolescents＇　depressive　symptoms　negatively　predicted　future　friendship　popularity　in　this　stressful　situation,　but　not　vice　versa.　The　results　of　this　study　also　highlighted　the　importance　of　friends＇　popularity,　indicating　that　adolescents　who　nominated　popular　peers　as　friends　tended　to　subsequently　have　lower　depressive　symptoms.　Conclusion:　These　findings　suggested　that　friends＇　popularity　may　serve　as　a　protective　factor　against　depressive　symptoms　under　major　chronic　stress.　Network-based　interventions　may　have　practical　implications　for　reducing　depressive　symptoms　under　major　chronic　stress.