Zayn Malik is reported to be considering his future in One Direction after quitting the band's current tour with stress.

The 22-year-old crumbled under the pressure after being bombarded with angry messages when the media got pictures of him holding hands with a woman - despite being engaged to Little Mix star Perrie Edwards.

A source told The Sun: "He fears for his future in the band.Zayn is really struggling. He can't cope with his private life being scrutinised to this level. Everything he does gets magnified and at the moment he simply can't deal with it."

Elaborating on Malik's fears for his long-term future with 1D, the source said: "He's worried if he'll ever be able to manage the constant attention like the rest of his bandmates. They seem to have a coping mechanism which he clearly hasn't.

"His management are doing all they can to help him deal with the stress and hope he'll eventually be able to manage it.

"But it's a big concern for Zayn because he doesn't want to leave the band and he loves the boys. He fears for his future in the band as he can't go on feeling like this."

And his 16-year-old sister Waliyahas taken to Instagram to defend her big bro.

[related]"All the stress has just got to him because of the rumours and hatred he's heard and received," she said.

"It's really hurting him - some people are just giving him too much. People need to realise my brother is human too.

"Stop hating him because he hasn't done anything to anybody, except for defending himself because of what people heard of what he did.

"But it isn't true. I love my brother to death."

His mum Trisha has reassured fans that her boy is doing OK.

She told The Mirror: "I have spoken to him and he's fine. We have been in contact.I can't say where he is going to go."

Zayn's only direct comment on the matter is still a tweet from Wednesday (March 18).

He wrote: "I'm 22 years old... I love a girl named Perrie Edwards. And there's a lot of jealous f**ks in this world I'm sorry for what it looks like x"