Adolescents may be lonely because they have trouble relating to others, a poor self-image, emotional disturbance, depression, cynicism about other people, or other situations. Early adolescents feel that sharing mutual activities is important in friendships, and that friends should be morally good loyal, and empathetic. 5. When adolescents leave the confines of their elementary schools, they broaden their friendships. By mid-adolescence, they strive to be accepted by members of a clique or crowd they strongly admire. Adolescents find group acceptance and popularity by conformity, achievement, participation in school activities, by developing and exhibiting personal qualities that others admire, and by learning social skills that ensure acceptance.
Some adolescents develop crushes on or fall in love with real or imagined partners.
Unrequited love can cause much heartache. The most common dating problems for girls are unwanted pressure to engage in sexual behavior, where to go and what to do on dates, communication, sexual misunderstandings, and money.