Pop star Justin Bieber is adamant he will never surround himself with a large circle of confidantes, declaring: "I don't need a bunch of friends to make me happy".

The 19-year-old singer struggles to trust new acquaintances and insists he only has four real pals he regularly contacts.

He tells Teen Vogue magazine, "I get good vibes from people all the time, and I probably could get along with them and be their friend, but now I just don't trust anybody.

"Literally, my phone never rings. I only have, like, four people that I keep in contact with. I don't need a bunch of friends to make me happy. I just need the people close to me that I love, that's all."

Bieber counts his mother, father and rapper Lil Twist as his closest pals, adding, "They don't see me as Justin Bieber, but just see me as Justin."

The teenager has sparked fears for his wellbeing in recent weeks following a disastrous tour of Britain which ended in him threatening to beat up a photographer. He is also under investigation by police in California over allegations he spat at a neighbour after he was told to stop speeding around a gated community in his Ferrari.