This applied research study investigated depressive symptoms in military-dependent high school athletes vs. non-athletes who have a parent on active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. The sample consisted of 332 adolescents who either did or did not participate in athletic activities and either did or did not have a parent on active duty in the military. The sample was 56% male and averaged 16.12 years old. The Multi-Health System Childhood Depression Inventory was used to assess depressive symptoms and negative mood. This study used a mixed-method research design. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Kruskal-Wallis tests) were used for the quantitative analyses. There was no significant difference in depression or negative mood by athletic participation or parental military activity. The qualitative portion of the study consisted of the use of the nominal group technique with eight students (50% male) in grades 9-12. Results from the qualitative analyses indicated that the students would benefit from (a) increase awareness of military-dependents who have a parent deployed or deploying, (b) activities at school for military-dependents to bring them closer together, (c) time during the school day for military-dependents to meet, and (d) an organized group of such students to discuss the effects of various stages of deployment. Based on these results, it was recommended that teachers and school administrators should demonstrate an increased awareness of military-dependents who have a parent deployed or deploying and that programs to assist these students should be developed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]