Background and Aims: 
The study proposed and tested a cognitive developmental model to examine the role of family prejudices in development and formation of religious orientation of children and its influence on their mental health.
Methods: 
A total of 280 children and their parents 175 fathers and 113 mothers recruited at various schools participated in the study. After taking informed consent from parents, responses were collected from children in their classes whereas parents’ forms were sent to their homes. Data were collected on achievement-related positive and negative stereotypes against opposite gender and sect, religious orientation, anxiety, and depression.
Results: 
Based on the conceptualization of the study, parallel models addressing gender and sectarian ingroup-outgroup classification were developed and estimated. The results supported the conceptual model of the study addressing underlying mechanism for the role of family prejudices in formation of religious orientation among adolescents and their effect on depression and anxiety in children.
Conclusions: 
The study contributed to the existing literature by clarifying ambiguities between religious orientation and mental health. Additionally, it is the first study involving a multi-informant design to test associations between these constructs in a religious community in South Asia.
Keywords:

04 - RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION MEDIATING BETWEEN FAMILY PREJUDICES AND MENTAL HEALTH: EXAMINING ACHIEVEMENT-RELATED STEREOTYPES FOR OPPOSITE GENDER AND SECT