“If your teen is demonstrating a degree of shyness that is making life difficult or they’re unhappy with how they’re feeling, it’s time to act,” says Marc D. Skelton, a California psychologist. “It’s a red flag if they’re not engaging with a core group of friends.”
The average teen tends to have four to six good friends, says Indiana University psychology professor Kathy Johnson…

Studies show 40 to 43 percent of people consider themselves shy, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Indiana University Shyness Research Institute. But the feeling is more intense in teens.

Sometimes, it takes a change in environment, a mentor or good role-modeling from parents or even peers to help teens improve their social skills.

Parents also need to expose children, starting in early childhood, to situations where they can develop social skills — sports, drama, school activities, volunteering, she says.

Source: Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2003501115_healthshyteens31.html