Background:　Friendship　networks　have　been　found　to　protect　adolescents　from　depressive　symptoms,　yet　whether　adolescents＇　depressive　symptoms　can　be　alleviated　or　reduced　by　altering　the　characteristics　of　their　friendship　networks　remains　unknown.　Objectives:　This　study　aimed　to　examine　the　effectiveness　of　a　social　network　intervention　among　Chinese　ado-lescents　suffering　from　major　chronic　stress　by　evaluating　the　change　of　friendship　networks　and　depressive　symptoms.　Methods:　A　brief　social　network　intervention,　consisting　of　4　face-to-face　sessions　once　a　month　lasting　90　min　each,　was　designed　to　facilitate　friendship　network　formation　and　to　optimize　peer　network　structures.　The　participants　were　allocated　to　an　intervention　group　(n　=　311)　or　a　control　group　(n　=　1062)　and　were　assessed　four　times　over　six　months.　Latent　growth　curve　modeling　was　used　to　examine　the　intervention　effect　on　network　features　and　depressive　symptoms.　Results:　Latent　growth　curve　analyses　revealed　that　the　students　in　the　intervention　group　created　more　ties　and　dissolved　fewer　ties　during　the　intervention,　and　the　steep　decreases　of　network　density　and　proportions　of　reciprocity　ties　were　offset.　The　intervention　group　also　experienced　a　slower　increase　of　depressive　symptoms　and　decrease　of　perceived　social　support　during　the　intervention.　Conclusions:　Our　findings　suggested　that　a　brief　social　network　intervention　could　effectively　act　on　depressive　symptoms　among　adolescents　suffering　from　chronic　major　stress.　This　study　shows　the　potential　of　network-based　interventions　to　prevent　adolescents　from　experiencing　a　risk　of　depression　in　a　stressful　context.