To investigate the relationship between self-control and adolescent risk-taking behavior andthe mediating role of emotion regulation strategies and depression, this study surveyed 497 adolescentsusing the Self-Control Dual System Scale, the Depression Scale of the Center for Epidemiological Studies,the Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The resultsshowed that: (1) self-control negatively predicted adolescent risk-taking behavior; (2) emotion regulationstrategies and depression chain-mediated the relationship between self-control and adolescent risk-takingbehavior, with cognitive reappraisal strategies negatively predicting adolescents’ depression, which inturn affects risk-taking behavior, and expressive suppression strategies positively predicting adolescents’depression, which in turn affects their risk-taking behavior. Thus, self-control can not only directlyinfluence adolescents’ risk-taking behavior, but also indirectly influence risk-taking behavior throughemotion regulation strategies and depression.