The　depressurization　method　is　promising　for　the　extraction　of　natural　gas　hydrates　from　marine　sediments.　Hydrate　dissociation　leads　to　degradation　of　the　mechanical　properties　of　hydrate-bearing　sediments　(HBSs).　Understanding　the　deformation　characteristics　of　HBSs　is　crucial　for　the　safe　extraction　of　natural　gas　hydrates.　This　study　investigates　the　effects　of　initial　hydrate　saturation,　hydrate　morphology,　depressurization　amplitude,　in　situ　stress,　and　hydrate　dissociation　rate　on　the　deformation　characteristics　of　HBSs　using　the　discrete　element　method.　The　deformation　characteristics　of　HBSs　during　depressurization　and　hydrate　dissociation　are　analyzed　from　both　macro-　and　microscopic　perspectives.　The　presence　of　hydrates　influences　only　the　deformation　evolution　of　HBSs,　while　the　final　volumetric　strains　of　HBSs　are　similar　under　a　given　in　situ　stress　and　depressurization　amplitude.　The　in　situ　stress　and　depressurization　amplitude　significantly　affect　the　volumetric　strain　of　HBSs,　with　the　volumetric　strain　increasing　as　the　in　situ　stress　and　depressurization　amplitude　rise.　Hydrate　morphology　impacts　the　deformation　characteristics　of　HBSs　during　depressurization　and　hydrate　dissociation.　The　hydrate　dissociation　rate　has　a　minimal　effect　on　the　deformation　of　HBSs　when　pore　pressure　is　constant.　These　results　enhance　our　understanding　of　the　deformation　characteristics　of　HBSs　during　hydrate　extraction.