Abstract
            Background: The current study aimed to explore the correlation between depression and various  aspects of social-emotional competence in gifted students. The study’s statistical population  comprised all gifted students enrolled in the National Organization for Development of  Exceptional Talents, with the sample consisting of gifted students from this organization in Tehran  during the 2020/2021 academic year.  
  Methods: The statistical population of the current study comprised all gifted students studying in  the National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents, with the sample consisting  of gifted students from this organization in Tehran during the 2020/2021 academic year. The  Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Social Emotional Competence Questionnaire  (SECQ) were utilized as research tools. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and  multiple regression methods.  
  Results: The findings indicate a significant negative correlation between self-awareness and  depression, as well as between responsible decision-making and depression among gifted  students.  
  Conclusion: Given the correlation between emotional intelligence, social-emotional competence,  and depression, it can be inferred that self-awareness and responsible decision-making are  predictive factors for depression among gifted students.