Aim. The study aims to identify relations between depressive symptoms prevalence in children and changing social context within a period of fifteen years. Material and methods. The Krakow Depression Inventory (KID), version AO B1 was used as a screening tool for depression in children. The subject group included 10-year-old fourth-form Krakow primary school students selected in 1984 and 2001 by two-stage draw. The analysis included subjects with a screening diagnosis of depression symptoms. In 1984, this was a group of 160, and in 2001 - 200 persons. Results. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the groups of pupils under study in 1984 and 2001 as far as the scale of mood disorder is concerned (a reduction in the intensity of symptoms in girls and an increase in boys) and somatic symptoms (increase of symptoms in girls and a reduction in the intensity of symptoms in boys). On other scales, no differences of statistical significance were found between the groups. Conclusions. The changing social conditions have a relatively low effect on the symptomatic depression image in preadolescent children.