Objective   To investigate the relationship between depression and trait coping style in Chongqing middle school students.    Methods   Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ) were adopted in the study to test the randomly sampled 1 596 middle school students of Chongqing.    Results   Students’ depression rate was a little bit high (58.4%). The differences in depression (41.20±7.83)

other factors [psychological disorder （3.30±1.36）

physical disorder （15.19±3.01）

psychomotor disturbance （4.43±1.25） and mental disorder （18.27±4.70)]

and trait coping style [positive coping style (29.5±8.5) and negative coping style (23.0±7.8)] was significant among genders

grades and school types. Students’ depression was in correlation with positive (besides psychological disorder factor

r=-0.483

-0.267

-0.272

and -0.553) and negative coping style (r=0.242

0.618

0.175

0.190

and 0.098) in different degrees. Coping style was a valuable predictor of students’ depression.    Conclusion   Students’ depression is significantly correlated to trait coping style in middle school students. Positive coping style can reduce the rate of student’s depression.